Leader of Opposition (LoO) Dumelang Saleshando says the ruling party Umbrella for Democratic Change’s (UDC) failure to fulfil manifesto promises means the UDC gave Batswana false hope.
Responding to the budget speech today, Saleshando said it is shocking that a budget speech that frequently refers to integrity is deafeningly silent on a large majority of these promises, including the foundational one on which all others rest - an economy that grows at an average annual rate of 10%. Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe delivered his maiden budget speech for 2025/26 financial year on Monday.
“The Minister and the new government must be candid with the nation about which of its promises the government will fulfil, as well as those it will abandon or revise. Promises cannot be abandoned quietly. It is called lying or deceit. It is also imperative that the government should not give false reasons for abandoning their promises,” Saleshando told Parliament.
Saleshando who is the leader of the main opposition party Botswana Congress Party (BCP) added that the budget is silent on raising the minimum wage of P1,500 to a living wage of P4,000 and the promised stipends of P2,500 per month for Ipelegeng volunteers and tertiary education students. “One of the key features of the old Botswana was making promises that the government never intended to achieve. If we have a new government that is quick to make pledges that it forgets within the first 100 days in government, then it cannot be a new Botswana, it will certainly qualify as the new BDP in a different colour,” the Maun North legislator highlighted.
“The Minister and the new government must be candid with the nation about which of its promises the government will fulfil, as well as those it will abandon or revise. Promises cannot be abandoned quietly. It is called lying or deceit. It is also imperative that the government should not give false reasons for abandoning their promises,” Saleshando told Parliament.
Saleshando who is the leader of the main opposition party Botswana Congress Party (BCP) added that the budget is silent on raising the minimum wage of P1,500 to a living wage of P4,000 and the promised stipends of P2,500 per month for Ipelegeng volunteers and tertiary education students. “One of the key features of the old Botswana was making promises that the government never intended to achieve. If we have a new government that is quick to make pledges that it forgets within the first 100 days in government, then it cannot be a new Botswana, it will certainly qualify as the new BDP in a different colour,” the Maun North legislator highlighted.
