Masisi has failed the youth miserably - BCP Youth Leader
Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Youth League President, Bonnie Tlhagwane has taken a swipe at President Mokgweetsi Masisi, accusing him of being an embarrassment to the nation due to his alleged indifference towards the plight of ordinary citizens.
Tlhagwane was expressing her resounding support for party president Dumelang Saleshando during a weekend rally to launch him as presidential candidate.
According to the youth league leader, President Masisi's administration has failed to address the rampant unemployment, single parenthood, and substance abuse issues that are increasingly common among the nation's youth.
Statistics Botswana reports that over 170 000 young people were not in employment, education or training (NEET) as of July 2023, the youth league leader said, and called upon voters to elect Saleshando as the next president to turn the tide around.
“Mr. Dumelang Saleshando represents all that we aspire for as a nation. He is the key and answer to all the challenges facing this Republic. Ensuring that he ascends to the Presidency of this Republic is urgent.
“He is the only choice we have as a country. Missing the October 2024 window will undoubtedly plunge this country into a dark hole that is almost impossible to get out of”, Tlhagwane said.
She cited Saleshando’s exemplary track record as a champion for the youth and the implementation of policies that have improved the lives of ordinary Batswana.
''They tell us when most of his peers were lounging in the comfort zone of careers in the corporate and public sector, he made the difficult choice of representing his generation of the youth in the August house.
“They tell us he shook the establishment to the core. To this day we enjoy among others cushioned prices of basic commodities on account of VAT exemption. Preferred tenant purchase scheme for BHC was passed. Exemption from property taxes for first time home owners passed. His record as a legislator is a string of life-changing interventions for Batswana", she said.
The BCP youth league’s decision to rally behind Saleshando's candidacy highlights the deep-rooted respect and admiration they hold for his unwavering commitment to their interests and the well-being of the country as a whole, he said