After much anticipation, a political commentator Anthony Morima, has dismissed the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) 2019 election manifesto saying it lacks substance and clear targets, but is rather just hot air thus proving that the ruling party has nothing new to offer to the electorates.
Opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), the Alliance for Progressives (AP) and Botswana Movement Democracy (BMD) will take on the ruling BDP at the general elections in October. Morima says the BDP 2019 manifesto, which was recently launched by party President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi does not contain anything concrete for the voters, particularly due to its lack of clear targets. With unemployment standing at 19.23%, BDP contends that it will introduce career counseling to all unemployed aged between 16-35 years, and expanding internship for job seekers for them to gain experience.
Morima said the manifesto lacks clear goals, vision and targets that the party intends to meet with regards to a specific numbers of jobs created within a given time frame.
“Clearly, there are no targets on how the party wants to address shortage of jobs. How will this aspiration be captured without goals? Targets can help you win the future. In the 2014 manifesto again there were no specific job targets and now it is difficult to reflect on how many jobs have been created from the previous targets,” he said.
BDP dismissed on BCL
The party has been of late back lashed of using the BCL mine as a way of buying votes despite the party’s legislators shooting down the motions on BCL reopening in several occasions in the just ended parliament session.
BDP is believed to be just painting a rosy picture which will not be ever achievable when it says in its manifesto that it will immediately evaluate and confirm the economic value of mineral assets of the BCL to bring hope to Batswana, and provide the necessary data to potential investors.
Critiques however argue that the BDP did not any how take serious the issue of BCL mine before only to claim giving priority now as election approaches is just a way of luring votes for now.
BCP’s Dithapelo Keorapetse have been heavily calling on the reopening of BCL saying that government took a decision to close BCL mine and Tati Nickel in October 2016.
He said it was a monumental mistake which the government refuses to admit and apologize for, and consequently the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Eric Molale then told Keorapetse that government owes nobody apology on BCL closure.
Unfulfilled promises
Trade unions have called on Masisi to fulfill the promises he made to them soon after he ascended to presidency, among them resuscitation of the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC). The BDP 2019 manifesto commits to develop an industrial relations system in which employers, workers and their representatives interact to set the controls for the governance of work relationships, by ensuring there is a robust and strong Bargaining Council.
BOFEPUSU vice president Obeile Molamu has challenged Masisi to deliver the Public Service Bargaining Council which he said promised to resuscitate by September 2018. He said to date that promise has not been fulfilled and no consultation is being made from the government side with unions on the progress of the issue.