19 Sep 2016

Just a few days before the country’s 50 years of independence celebrations, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has decided to commemorate BOT50 through showcasing a history of the BDP as the party in government.

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama on September 19 officially launched the BDP exhibition which is ongoing at the national museum.

Speaking at the launch, the President said as the BDP, they were proud of the achievements of the nation and that the history of their performance as the ruling party was directly connected to that of the republic.

He said the advances that were achieved by Botswana were consequent to the architects of the party’s policies that were adopted by founding fathers. 

“Through their foresight and vision, we pursued the principles of democracy, periodic elections every five years, liberal economics and related elements, in particular the emphasis of collective ownership of mineral or natural resources and common development in this regard, all aimed at improving the livelihoods of all Batswana, with proceeds emanating from the aforementioned products,” he said. 

As the BDP, Lt Gen. Khama noted that they were proud that this foresight helped them avoid the resource curse of internal conflict and strife, commonly associated with endowment of mineral resources.

Furthermore, he said governance is not a walk in the park, but one needed to have character for them to comprehend fully what it involved; patriotism, adding that for the BDP to be where it was today, a lot had to be done, including a lot of personal sacrifices, not only for individuals but for the country.

He also said for Botswana to be resolute in the pursuance of its ideologies at a period when it was fashionable to be associated with socialism and communism was very telling and character building.

President Khama also said BDP are the architects that designed the tremendous development that have been achieved in building the country in the last 50 years.

“We in the BDP are the doctors who have cured and continue to cure illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, corruption and many others. We in the BDP are drivers who are taking this country and its citizens on a journey of prosperity. We are taking Botswana forward,” he said.

He noted that as a party, their democratic credentials spoke for themselves, as they assisted all Batswana without regard for party affiliation because that was what democratic principles prescribed and that the country had lived these democratic values for over 50 years.

He said government had never implemented policies selectively, be they health related, agriculture, construction and financial services among others.ENDS