Africa-Press – Botswana. The main opposition party, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has called on the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) to wake up from its slumber and start delivering on the promises it made to Batswana ahead of the elections.
As the legislators have convened in Parliament for the debate of National Development Plan 12 (NDP 12), BCP Members of Parliament (MP’s) have berated UDC for failing to fulfill its pledges on job creation, P4 000 living wage and P2 500 tertiary allowance among others.
Leader of Opposition (LoO) and also MP for Maun North Dumelang Saleshando said the narrative that they found the country in tatters is not a low hanging fruit that the government can use on failing to deliver promises.
“I am convinced that all of you guys by October last year were all aware that the P4 000 minimum wage was not possible. You knew very well all of you guys even with the 100 000 jobs in 12 months is not possible even with 500 000 jobs in five years,” Saleshando berated the regime.
Saleshando further said that the UDC government should now work on delivering on its promises rather than setting themselves targets that are beyond reach. “We are here today for the NDP 12 and you envision that the rate of economic growth over the period will rise to 6% but the ministry of finance says otherwise stating the economy will grow on average 1.9%,” he said.
He implored that the government should act on their words and stop telling the public folklore tales.
Saleshando was seconded by MP Unity Dow, who questioned the government’s rationality when developing their strategic plans to see if they are viable or not.
“We have 1.7 million national herds of cattle but we are left with four years and assuming that half those are females, so will it be possible for us that in four years the herd is five million even if you take a calculator?” asked Dow.
She emphasized that it is allowed to have ambitions as individuals but warned that sometimes people should wake up and smell the coffee and face the reality of the situations at hand.
Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs Ignatius Moswaane remained resolute that UDC will deliver on its promises by hook or crook despite the doubts.
“The truth of the matter is that we are going to deliver on our P4 000 living wage promise in broad daylight and you will be surprised. Same goes to the tertiary allowance of P2 500 and old pension fund of P2 500,” he said. Moswaane emphasised that they are more than ready to take on the challenges with god on their side.
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