08 Feb 2024

The proposed national budget for the 2023/24 financial year has been described as unkind to the unemployed and poor members of society by Leader of Opposition (LOO), Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse on Wednesday when responding to the budget speech by Minister of Finance, Ms Peggy Serame on Monday.

He said his party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change, would offer a rational and prudent government when voted into power and would prioritise the unemployed and working poor first.

He said the fundamental problem faced by the country was that it had set itself a low benchmark by comparing itself with poor countries rather than with the best in theworld.

“When you are called to account for failure, incompetence, inefficiencies and ineffectiveness you are quick to inform us you rank among the best either in Africa or the region where there is clearly widespread corruption and economic mismanagement,” he said.

He said his party remained resolute that 100 000 meaningfully remunerating jobs within 12 months was achievable, and that the economy could afford a living wage informed by empirical evidence on the cost of living.

Mr Keorapetse, who is also the MP for Selebi Phikwe West, said his party believed that tertiary education students should at least be getting P2 500 per month. He also said they believed that sanitary pads should be provided freely to women and girls, especially in schools.

He said an unemployment benefit scheme or fair entitlement guarantee scheme was guaranteed under the UDC as well as an unemployment stipend for the unemployed and a comprehensive debt relief plan.

He said positioning the country as a Meeting Incentives Conference and Exhibitions centre would not reach world class standards if the country did not improve its public transport system. He also said there was need to invest in a rapid urban transit system starting with Gaborone and Francistown, adding that there was also a need to integrate public transport operators into the system and to upgrade public transport to a safer and more comfortable level.

On other issues, he said judging by historic trends to model and interrogate future performance, it was unlikely that the country would attain high income status in 12 years, adding that it would need enormous economic transformation and serious overhaul of current economic policies.

Mr Keorapetse described the country’s economy as characterised by high unemployment levels. He said young people holding trade certificates, diplomas, degrees and post-graduate qualifications were either underemployed or unemployed.

He also said the country was faced with unprecedented levels of poverty and was one of the most unequal societies in the world.

The LOO also said some Batswana still lacked access to basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation services and other amenities.

He further said the economy of the country remained in the hands of foreigners and naturalised citizens.

He said public hospitals, clinics and other facilities were falling apart while nurses and doctors were demoralised due to low pay and that some have left the country due to unfavourable conditions.

Mr Keorapetse said his party advocated for the absorption of all interns and Tirelo Sechaba participants into the public service. He also said there should be collaboration between the ministries of foreign affairs and education to attain more scholarships for young Batswana offered by bilateral and multilateral partners as well as the overhaul of the tertiary education financing model in order to fund degree holders to higher education. “This will increase their employability locally, regionally and internationally, including self-employment,” he said.

Mr Keorapetse further called for the setting up of inter-ministerial employment bureaus for international placement to coordinate employment searches for young people abroad. As the LOO, Mr Keorapetse was the first Member of Parliament to respond to the budget speech. ends