UDC petitions Sweden over Botswana�s arms race
Friday, June 09, 2017
![Gripen Fighter aircraft](https://cdn4.premiumread.com/?url=https://www.mmegi.bw/uploads/imported_images/2017/june/09/phpl6WJfU.jpg&w=400&q=72&f=jpg&t=1)
Gripen Fighter aircraft
In a strongly worded 10-page petition titled ‘Botswana’s arms race in the midst of poverty, massive unemployment and social inequality’, signed May 30, 2017, Boko says as the current regime is left with barely two years to the next general elections, it is committing the country to such spending which is both irresponsible and immoral. “With the next elections in 2019, and President Ian Khama in the last few months of his last term in office and due to retire on March 3l, 2018, even the mandate on which this unjustifiable military spending is pursued is highly weak and suspect,” Boko writes.
He pleads that no Swedish company should associate itself with or participate in such grievous impropriety. He also appeals to the conscience of the Swedish government and the sense of rectitude of the Swedish people. He then started giving the brief history about Botswana. He says it must be noted that because of its very humble beginning, ever since its independence Botswana has devoted its very meagre resources to the development of the country’s infrastructure. This was in order to increase the standard of living and social welfare of its citizens.
The BDP as a party known to have ample resources has always held its primaries well in time, but this time around that was not the case. The first leg of the primaries was held last weekend, with the final leg being billed for the coming weekend. This time around, the BDP failed to shine in its primary elections. The elections were chaotic; most if not all polling stations didn't open at the specified time of 6am. Loyal BDP members braved the...