Africa-Press – Botswana. The civil rights of Batswana have been restored under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government and now, members of the community are free to protest whenever they are unhappy, without fear of victimisation, says Shoshong legislator, Mr Moneedi Bagaisamang.
Mr Bagaisamang, who was debating the State-of-Nation Address in Parliament on Wednesday, said government was a proponent of human rights and would protect the rights of its people, especially the marginalised.
He also said government should not be apologetic about insourcing security guards and cleaning services providers, which were previously outsourced because that would ensure that the employees, whose rights were trampled upon, were now protected.
“The guards and cleaners will now, among other things, be entitled to pensions and other benefits, something that is not the case with outsourcing these services,” Mr Bagaisamang said.
He said ill-treatment of security guards by their employers put the previous government in bad light, and the UDC led government would not commit the same mistake. Protecting security companies is akin to protecting the interests of a few individuals at the expense of the majority, Mr Bagaisamang said.
Regarding the promises made by the UDC prior to elections, he said it was not possible that the government would fulfill them at once, owing to the status of the economy but, some had been fulfilled. Mr Bagaisamang said that Shoshong area needed roads that connected villages within the constituency.
Gabane/Mmankgodi MP, Mr Kagiso Mmusi, for his part said conversion of special constables to mainstream police service was in the second intake when the government changed guard, as such, it would not be accurate to ascribe that to the new government, when it was him who mooted the idea, which was then implemented by the previous administration.
Also, he said the health sector had collapsed under the ruling party, adding that when they took power, the previous government was advanced in navigating ways of procuring medicines directly from suppliers.
Mr Mmusi said the UDC government inherited a strong economy with robust credit ratings, and that the government was to blame for the current situation.
Further, he said the government was failing on its promises, except for a few such as increasing old age pension by P540, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training students’ allowance to P1,900, though now failing to procure food for the same students.
Also, he said the ploughing had commenced but government was failing to assist farmers, something that could lead to starvation in the coming months.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
