President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is also president of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), has described as "dangerous" the promises that opposition parties continue to feed Batswana in a bid to win their hearts.
Masisi condemned opposition parties’ proposal of giving Batswana P4000 minimum wage, explaining that once the minimum wage increases, prices of everything will also increase to match the new living wage. He explained that prices of basic goods would dramatically rise and the economy of Botswana would be in trouble if opposition parties were to win elections.
Masisi said that in countries where people are paid a lot of money, the prices of goods and services are also quite high and some things that we get for free in Botswana are not free in their countries. Masisi told residents of Mogoditshane that those that have long applied for land in Mogoditshane in the 1990s will be allocated plots.
He explained that on the 7th of October this month 700 plots will be allocated in Mmokolodi, 1700 plots in Ledumadumane–Mmopane, 1200 in Mogoditshane Block 5, 1300 plots in Metsimotlhabe Block 4, while Mogoditshane sub landboard has taken back 42 farms from Diremogolo hill.
Furthermore, Masisi said that in the past Mogoditshane had a waiting list of 140 000 people but now the list has 48 632. He explained that the list was trimmed down as many did not qualify due to having other plots elsewhere.
Masisi said that this year in Mogoditshane they will allocate land for people that applied in Mogoditshane from July 1993, and next year they will focus on those that applied in 1996.
He explained that the land issue is a difficult one, where the state finds hurdles which include lawyers. However, Masisi said that he has keen interest in issues of land and if he is re-elected he will bring back Botswana to its people.
“Lefatshe le ke boswa jwa bo rraarona,” loosely translated to this land is an inheritance from our forefathers," Masisi said, adding that Botswana does not belong to dishonest people who come from abroad and steal from Batswana.
Masisi said that he is worried about the state where those who are benefitting are not Batswana and Batswana get the least of these benefits.
He said that after the elections, they will amend the law so that land that is sold to foreigners will be more expensive than land sold to Batswana in order to preserve land for future generations.
“We did not waste money like they allege,” Masisi said, explaining that the reason why the money has gone down is that they have currently released a lot of road tenders.
He said that these tenders are done by the people of Botswana and in future they will export their skills and knowledge in building roads and other infrastructure to other nations.
Moreover, Masisi said that some opposition people warn people against getting government initiatives such as Chema Chema whilst they themselves get these initiatives.
He warned that if such people do not stop what they are doing they will reveal who these people are and what initiatives they have taken out as this should be public knowledge as it is government monies.
In response to the President’s remarks, UDC Spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa said that it is a fallacy to argue that the P4000 minimum wage is too high for a small economy like Botswana. Mohwasa explained that Botswana is richer that South Africa in terms of per capita income but the minimum wage in South Africa is P3 700
Mohwasa noted that even though Ireland, Australia, New Zealand are small economies compared to the USA and UK, they have higher minimum wages than the UK and the USA, further adding that they are also richer.
He said that minimum wage applies to formal sector such as shops, commercial farms, among others.
Masisi condemned opposition parties’ proposal of giving Batswana P4000 minimum wage, explaining that once the minimum wage increases, prices of everything will also increase to match the new living wage. He explained that prices of basic goods would dramatically rise and the economy of Botswana would be in trouble if opposition parties were to win elections.
Masisi said that in countries where people are paid a lot of money, the prices of goods and services are also quite high and some things that we get for free in Botswana are not free in their countries. Masisi told residents of Mogoditshane that those that have long applied for land in Mogoditshane in the 1990s will be allocated plots.
He explained that on the 7th of October this month 700 plots will be allocated in Mmokolodi, 1700 plots in Ledumadumane–Mmopane, 1200 in Mogoditshane Block 5, 1300 plots in Metsimotlhabe Block 4, while Mogoditshane sub landboard has taken back 42 farms from Diremogolo hill.
Furthermore, Masisi said that in the past Mogoditshane had a waiting list of 140 000 people but now the list has 48 632. He explained that the list was trimmed down as many did not qualify due to having other plots elsewhere.
Masisi said that this year in Mogoditshane they will allocate land for people that applied in Mogoditshane from July 1993, and next year they will focus on those that applied in 1996.
He explained that the land issue is a difficult one, where the state finds hurdles which include lawyers. However, Masisi said that he has keen interest in issues of land and if he is re-elected he will bring back Botswana to its people.
“Lefatshe le ke boswa jwa bo rraarona,” loosely translated to this land is an inheritance from our forefathers," Masisi said, adding that Botswana does not belong to dishonest people who come from abroad and steal from Batswana.
Masisi said that he is worried about the state where those who are benefitting are not Batswana and Batswana get the least of these benefits.
He said that after the elections, they will amend the law so that land that is sold to foreigners will be more expensive than land sold to Batswana in order to preserve land for future generations.
“We did not waste money like they allege,” Masisi said, explaining that the reason why the money has gone down is that they have currently released a lot of road tenders.
He said that these tenders are done by the people of Botswana and in future they will export their skills and knowledge in building roads and other infrastructure to other nations.
Moreover, Masisi said that some opposition people warn people against getting government initiatives such as Chema Chema whilst they themselves get these initiatives.
He warned that if such people do not stop what they are doing they will reveal who these people are and what initiatives they have taken out as this should be public knowledge as it is government monies.
In response to the President’s remarks, UDC Spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa said that it is a fallacy to argue that the P4000 minimum wage is too high for a small economy like Botswana. Mohwasa explained that Botswana is richer that South Africa in terms of per capita income but the minimum wage in South Africa is P3 700
Mohwasa noted that even though Ireland, Australia, New Zealand are small economies compared to the USA and UK, they have higher minimum wages than the UK and the USA, further adding that they are also richer.
He said that minimum wage applies to formal sector such as shops, commercial farms, among others.
