03 Sep 2023

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) remains a benchmarking model on good governance, political landscape and development.

This was said by the President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi when addressing BDP’s 59th National Council held in Palapye on Saturday under the theme ‘Unity and Growth Our Journey to High Income status.’

President Masisi said the party continued to leave its foot prints on the political landscape and development journey of the nation thus making it to be a benchmarking model.

He said the  world was taking notice of the party’s exemplary governance and commitment to constitutional democracy as the best political framework within which to spearhead national development.

“We walk the talk of democracy and our international relations are glowing,” said Dr Masisi.

The President said democrats were gathered to engage in discourse to deliberate on vital policies and essential amendments that would breathe new life into the esteemed Botswana Democratic Party.

He said the focus was two-fold: to equip members with unmatched efficacy required for the imminent primary elections and to lay a solid foundation for the 2024 General Elections.

He said the party found strength in unity and called on to all democrats to rally together for party and country.

President Masisi said there was no democrat who was superior and bigger than the party. 

He said as democrats would be heading  for primary elections and ultimately the 2024 General Elections, they should understand that  ‘no one’s needs were more important than that those of the party.

President Masisi emphasised that the country and the BDP as a collective comes first. 

Further, Dr Masisi said democrats should understand that whenever they spoke  or represented  the party in various platforms, they should always be guided by the noble notion that the country came first.

People had witnessed the nation ascend to new heights, the party flourishing and collective dreams evolving into tangible reality, said Dr Masisi.

The BDP, he said was committed to the noble cause of economic transformation, with the bedrock agriculture, mining, tourism and digitalisation anchoring the party pursuit of progress and economic transformation to achieve a high-income status. 

He said the path to achieve the objective was marked by a series of milestones etched through unity, innovation and unyielding dedication.

The President said their economic and political history as a party and people was one of the transformative power, turning the country’s economic landscape from poverty to an upper-middle- income status.

Furthermore, President Masisi said the track record that the party had etched served as a testament to unwavering commitment to fulfilling promises.

He urged Batswana to change their mindset to self-reliance through exploitation of knowledge systems. 

The BDP, he said stood as the threshold of change, at national and international levels, pointing out that people must embrace such changes with clarity and become more agile in leading the nation with exceptional finesse.

The cardinal tenets of the transformative journey span critical domains: the resolute response to COVID-19 pandemic, the harmonisation of government operations, embracing digitalization, nurturing of value chain development and fostering of a paradigm shift in the collective mindset, he said. ends