Leader of the Opposition Dumelang Saleshando has criticised that the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) in their first 12 months in government has totally lost focus on key issues affecting Batswana.
Reflecting on UDC’s leadership after one year in office, Saleshando suggested that the party is the new Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in power as both parties’ ways of governing are of the same.
“Last year when I was responding to the state of nation address and budget speech, I asked if this is a new Botswana or a new BDP. As the Botswana Congress Party, we indicated that the new Botswana cannot be in writing but by works.”
Addressing a press conference in Gaborone this week, the BCP Leader disapproved President Duma Boko’s tradition of governance of not engaging parliament on key issues of national interest.
“Governance dictates that he explains the business case for acquiring DeBeers. If it sinks were would we get the money to pay people who helped us acquire it. Also, those people what is in it for them because they are certainly looking for something.”
He also accused the UDC for being corrupt just like the former ruling party highlighting the appointment of Botswana People’s Party President, Motlatsi Molapisi as president’s political advisor as well as the direct appointment of tenders to the party’s funders.
“Direct appointments of tenders are bad governance. We are not surprised because this is what we expected will happen under this government.”
Saleshando continued, “the new BPD is also doing selective amendment of the constitution which we were against, calling for a wholistic review.”
Meanwhile, Saleshando also noted that the country today is going through the worst health crisis ever blaming the Minister of Health, Dr Stephen Modise for the mess. “Who would have thought that today we will be knocking on doors of Zimbabwe asking for help of ARVS and other essential medicines. As we speak today some health facilities do not have paracetamol and panado. We were in Gumare recently and there was no single antibiotics at the hospital.”
“At safari camps in the Okavango Delta, employees are only given a supply of ARVs for seven days, people have to choose between work and health as there is no employer who can fly them to Maun on weekly basis.”
Saleshando has since called for the resignation of Minister Dr Modise blaming him for the death of many patients in hospitals.
“Though Modise is trying to downplay the problem that he built, the truth of the matter is that patients dying in hospitals is due to his leadership. I associate with those who say he must leave. The man has blood on his hands.”
The BCP leader has also urged Batswana to demand their rights under the social contract which they have signed with the UDC as the party has failed to fulfill its manifesto promises.
A year later in power, Saleshando criticised that the UDC has failed to deliver key pledges it made in the run-up to the 2024 elections. “Those urging UDC to fulfill the social contract are not wrong it’s their right,” said the opposition leader.
Among, the pledges failed, he highlighted 100 000 jobs in one year in office, the P4,000 minimum wage, monthly P1,800 payments for old-age pensioners as well as the P2,500 allowance for tertiary students.
