Following the delivery of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday, Leader of Opposition (LoO) in Parliament Dumelang Saleshando expressed mixed reactions to the speech, commending certain aspects while strongly criticising others.
President Duma Boko delivered his second SONA speech yesterday outlining several aspects that the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) will undertake to transform Botswana from diversifying the economy and improving livelihoods of Batswana.
Some of the key initiatives include the declaration of Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH) as a public hospital, cancellation of single use plastic, national clean up campaign, rehabilitation, citizenship by investment, and importation of 1000 cattle from Brazil among others.
Reflecting on the address by the President, Saleshando said Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has always made it their mandate to laud the UDC government if it steps in the right direction.
“I have always said we will support the government's efforts on matters of green energy. I think they are coming out with more clearer plans around green energy and we will support that,” Saleshando.
Saleshando further said the BCP will support the government's efforts to make Botswana clean looking at the constituency he represents which is a tourism destination town.
“We will support the campaign around making Botswana clean. I mean I represent a tourism town and cleanliness is a big thing for a tourism destination town,” he said.
He further pointed out that he was impressed by Boko’s sentiments that his government will focus on revitalising the education sector which has been dwindling in recent years.
“We will also support efforts around education and modernising the infrastructure as he said that they will focus on revamping schools,” LoO said.
Though Saleshando heaped praise on some of the UDC government’s ambitions, he was left dismayed by some of the aspects that were raised by the President.
“This is the second SONA, and the President has forgotten the pledges he made only last year. Remember, he had made certain pledges on the 100 days; fast track infrastructure development, economic incentives for young people, strengthen anti corruption institutions, open public expenditure within 100 days and none of those have happened,” bemoaned Saleshando.
He further hinted that Botswana is in it for a long haul as the President keeps on asking for more time to deliver on his promises.
“His theme today is one step at a time and most of us know a song ‘one step at a time there is no need to rush’ so it is going to be a long five years,” Saleshando said.
In conclusion, he criticised the citizenship investment programme suggesting that it poses great risk though Boko said the programme will be done with due diligence and vetting process.
“We know what this government means when they say they do vetting and due diligence; however, already they have lost the plot with the Bonno Housing scheme. That simply suggests they have no capacity,” he said.
