This is not what Batswana bargained for - Balopi
The new government is not what Batswana hoped or bargained for, President of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Mpho Balopi, said when reflecting on the Umbrella for Democratic Change’s one-year anniversary in power. He said the moment offers all Batswana an opportunity to soberly reflect and introspect on whether this is the change they envisaged.
“As for me and the Party I lead, we are underwhelmed. At every given opportunity going forward, starting with the Kgalagadi South by-election, “A re boeleng marakanelong” Balopi said.
The BDP leader stated that the 12-month period has been characterised by a series of broken electoral promises, confusion, signs of lack of leadership and reckless spending, wastage and an unprecedented collapse of the health system to a point where life-saving drugs have run dry, even though only the government of the day cannot see this failure.
He said the economy has also been grossly mismanaged, leading to hiking of taxes, devaluation and weakening of the Pula and a corresponding hike in interest rates which makes life unbearable for Batswana.
“Contrary to their pledges, such as the reduction of water and electricity tariffs, the government now talks about removing all subsidies which would now translate to hiking of water and electricity tariffs, something that the BDP government guarded against while in power.
We sadly note that the President is now bashing Batswana and organisations, accusing them of being overly dependent on the government, insinuating that Batswana are spoilt,” Balopi said.
Balopi posited that it is disheartening that all social safety nets that were started and maintained by the BDP government over the years, have collapsed under the UDC government.
“The rainy season is upon us, and confusion looms large for farmers as all indications are that for the first time in many years, the government is not going to assist them plough their fields,” he stated. According to the BDP leader their programmes, which guaranteed feed and seed subsidies have been discontinued to the disadvantage of Batswana.
“Our nation finds itself in this dire situation, on account of a deliberate and conscious action by the government of the day. Amid all these, it is the bird song of the current government that they found the public coffers empty, thereby attempting to shift the blame to the previous government.”
Balopi who was elected the BDP President in May this year highlighted that the evidence on the ground however suggests that the government has blown an amount in excess of P52,6 billion in only eight (8) months, which translates to close to P6,6 Billion a month.
He added that “to a greater extent, these huge expenditures are a result of misplaced priorities on the part of the UDC government. For instance, an insatiable appetite for costly travel by the President as well as a bloated wage bill occasioned by unplanned increase in the number of nominated councillors and engaging in political patronage initiatives such as “maja-a-dutse,” the purported Presidential Advisor.”