Tsogwane vows BDP will deliver fully on its promises
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) chairman Slumber Tsogwane has expressed confidence that his party will be able to deliver on its 2019 general election promises.
VP Tsogwane said the BDP-led government is well on track in delivering its promises to Batswana, a case in point being the comprehensive constitutional, legislative and policy review, which has been completed and availed to all Batswana to read.
The vice president vowed that his party would deliver on its promises and build a better future for the citizens of the country, adding that another glaring achievement is digitisation, courtesy of SmartBots – which helps Batswana to access broadband internet and digital services through WI-FI hotspots available in all public places, including primary schools which have been connected with the Digital Kit leading to a conducive teaching and learning environment.
Addressing BDP members in Xhumo village during the Boteti West Constituency 2019 victory celebration, Tsogwane said as espoused in the party’s 2019 Election Manifesto aptly tagged 'Advancing together towards a more inclusive economy', the BDP remains firm in continuing to consult Batswana in a bid to lead the country on a path to economic transformation and create sustainable jobs that will roll back the scourge of poverty.
Another milestone for the party, Tsogwane said, is the commitment to providing all citizens with access to clean water as 98 per cent of Botswana’s population has access to drinking water, while 86 per cent of the population have access to basic sanitation services of which majority are in urban and major villages.
“We are committed to allocating at least 100, 000 plots before the end of the current financial year, and so far, we have allocated a total of 52, 277 plots in Tribal Land for the period 1st April 2022 to 28th February 2023. This achievement is six times more than the number of plots allocated in the past two decades which averaged 8, 630 plots allocated annually. Furthermore, an additional 60, 000 plots are currently being surveyed,” Tsogwane said.
He said that even though other things take time, “but we will be able to deliver because we are the only organisation in the country, which is united and committed to improving the lives of our people".
On digitisation, Tsogwane said that Online Business Registration System (OBRS) was launched in 2019, and is currently interfaced with Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) and Omang for enhanced efficiency; 50 dikgotla across the country have also been connected with WI-FI, including Satellite Communication ground station which has been completed and now receiving data from orbiting satellites and recently launched into orbit.
He also called for unity in the party indicating that it is when they work together as a collective that they are able to reach all the promises that they have so far have delivered.
He told the gathering that many parties have been formed and have faded away, while the BDP still stands. Tsogwane said they need to continue to consolidate as democrats and safeguard the future of the party.
Tsogwane said the BDP-led government would continue to create jobs "in order to improve the economy of the country". He was adamant that the BDP would win the upcoming 2014 general elections.
"Victory is certain for us. We will win the elections, whether they like it or not. Progress and all the best things that our country can give the people can only be done when the BDP is in government," he said.