Botswana National Front (BNF), a formidable opposition party that has been in the realms of Botswana politics for over half a century, is celebrating its 58th anniversary.
The President of the BNF, Duma Boko says the party is anchored on uniting those in opposition politics of Botswana, to ultimately see change happen in Botswana.
“History speaks of the efforts made by the BNF throughout different times in this nation’s history,” Boko said, adding that the BNF has not neglected this core mandate.
Boko said that the BNF has always been a party that fights for the rights of people. The party has always been standing for those who have been undermined by the system, including advocating for the different tribes in Botswana to be taught in their native languages, a concept that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party has now adopted.
He said the BNF’s core mandate of unifying the oppressed, birthed the 2010 resolution in Mochudi that saw the birth of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
Boko took time to appreciate those that gave their lives to the formation and growth of the party, citing Kenneth Koma, Mareledi Giddie, Klass Motshidisi, Maitshwarelo Dabutha, Paul Rantao and Pretty Molefe, as some of the
forerunners who built the foundation of the party and ran with its vision over the years.
Furthermore, he noted that Botswana is in dire straits and there is a need for regime change as poverty has enveloped the lives of the people, as well as the quality of education which he said has plummeted. He said it is for this reason that those in power cannot take their children to government schools nor government hospitals because of the poor state that they are in.
However, he said that all hope is not lost because when the UDC gets into government in the next elections, they will bring forth a national health scheme that will ensure that the P17 billion given to the Ministry of Health would benefit the people of Botswana fully.
Boko urged Batswana to register to vote and be prepared to defend their votes with their lives. He called for the amendment of the Electoral Act because it has a lot of loopholes.
In an interview with this publication, Duma Boko said only those who are not prepared to do things right will be intimidated by Madibelatlhopo - a group that exists to ensure that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) stipulated laws are followed to the letter.
There has been no place where the IEC can be called out for the illegal actions they do, Boko said, adding that the secretary of the IEC should not be employed on contract but it is done for influence.
He said that the last elections led to the birth of Madibelatlhopo as the group that provides checks and restraints because it also scrutinises the working operations of the IEC.
He added that the IEC is terrified because now the people are armed with the truth and they will not let irregularities that had plagued the nation in the last election be repeated. He noted that the reason why the ruling party has been losing in the by-elections is that Batswana now know the tricks that they have been performing.
“We will defend the integrity of the elections with our lives and the lives of others who may try to subvert democracy,” Boko said, adding that they are unapologetic about their stance and they want the upcoming elections to be free from any rigging or cheating.
The President of the BNF, Duma Boko says the party is anchored on uniting those in opposition politics of Botswana, to ultimately see change happen in Botswana.
“History speaks of the efforts made by the BNF throughout different times in this nation’s history,” Boko said, adding that the BNF has not neglected this core mandate.
Boko said that the BNF has always been a party that fights for the rights of people. The party has always been standing for those who have been undermined by the system, including advocating for the different tribes in Botswana to be taught in their native languages, a concept that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party has now adopted.
He said the BNF’s core mandate of unifying the oppressed, birthed the 2010 resolution in Mochudi that saw the birth of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
Boko took time to appreciate those that gave their lives to the formation and growth of the party, citing Kenneth Koma, Mareledi Giddie, Klass Motshidisi, Maitshwarelo Dabutha, Paul Rantao and Pretty Molefe, as some of the
forerunners who built the foundation of the party and ran with its vision over the years.
Furthermore, he noted that Botswana is in dire straits and there is a need for regime change as poverty has enveloped the lives of the people, as well as the quality of education which he said has plummeted. He said it is for this reason that those in power cannot take their children to government schools nor government hospitals because of the poor state that they are in.
However, he said that all hope is not lost because when the UDC gets into government in the next elections, they will bring forth a national health scheme that will ensure that the P17 billion given to the Ministry of Health would benefit the people of Botswana fully.
Boko urged Batswana to register to vote and be prepared to defend their votes with their lives. He called for the amendment of the Electoral Act because it has a lot of loopholes.
In an interview with this publication, Duma Boko said only those who are not prepared to do things right will be intimidated by Madibelatlhopo - a group that exists to ensure that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) stipulated laws are followed to the letter.
There has been no place where the IEC can be called out for the illegal actions they do, Boko said, adding that the secretary of the IEC should not be employed on contract but it is done for influence.
He said that the last elections led to the birth of Madibelatlhopo as the group that provides checks and restraints because it also scrutinises the working operations of the IEC.
He added that the IEC is terrified because now the people are armed with the truth and they will not let irregularities that had plagued the nation in the last election be repeated. He noted that the reason why the ruling party has been losing in the by-elections is that Batswana now know the tricks that they have been performing.
“We will defend the integrity of the elections with our lives and the lives of others who may try to subvert democracy,” Boko said, adding that they are unapologetic about their stance and they want the upcoming elections to be free from any rigging or cheating.
