President, Ministers in backpockets of big Chinese Companies
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) says in the coming Parliament scheduled to start on Monday next week it will among others push for debt relief for Batswana as the citizens are drowning in debt.
The Parliament session which is expected to last at least for six weeks will start on Monday with President Mokgweetsi Masisi delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Leader of Opposition who is also the UDC MP for Selibe-Phikwe West, Dithapelo Keorapetse said as the UDC in parliament, they have noted the prorogation and consequent convocation of the assembly on Monday the 14th and are ready to represent the interests of Batswana.
He said they understand that they will be sitting in the main Chamber which has recently been refurbished and not virtually as it was the case in the last two sessions. According to Keorapetse, the delay for Parliament not sit this week could be attributed to the rejuvenation of the chamber, Ntlo ya Dikgosi meeting and the President being away in Egypt among other things. Parliament is expected to adjourn around the 23rd of December 2022.
“Our priority for this coming session, which may include three or four meetings depending on the business of the House, will be engagements on job creation, poverty reduction, economic empowerment and bridging the gap between the haves and the have nots.
“Specifically, UDC will propose unemployment benefits including monthly unemployment stipend, accelerated job creation, debt relief measures for Batswana who are drowning in debt, living wage, social protection initiatives such as free distribution of sanitary pads to all women,” said LOO in an interview.
He indicated that they will vehemently oppose all policy decisions causing regression of the country’s democracy, including degeneration of the judiciary and “we will present alternatives for democratic consolidation.”
According to the legislator, they will be presenting motions, questions, themes, policy debates and Bills on these issues. Keorapetse explained that they will continue their fight against corruption, economic crime, mismanagement, unethical governance and skyrocketing violent crimes.
“The UDC will present a few Bills on inter alia Electoral Reforms, Labour Laws Reforms, Affiliation Proceedings amendment and others. We will scrutinise the flagrant attempt of grand and elite corruption in the form of the proposed Transitional National Development Plan. The plan is purely political business cycle geared towards getting 2024 elections kickbacks and to basically buy the vote.
“The state has been captured by a group of influential foreign and naturalised Indians for far too long and lately a cartel of Chinese big business are closing in to complete the capture.
The President, some of his ministers and a very few senior bureaucrats are in the back pockets of these big Chinese companies. We are in trouble and the future is uncertain. We will flag these issues throughout the session and propose alternatives as a government in waiting,” asserted Keorapetse.