11 Aug 2024

Leader of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Advocate Duma Boko has described his party as the appealing choice to offer durable solutions to challenges facing the country.

He was speaking at the UDC manifesto launch at the Royal Aria stadium in Tlokweng on Saturday.

Adv Boko said his party was aware of the problems Batswana faced and was presenting a manifesto that offered practical and effective interventions.

He said the manifesto was a carefully drawn vision that would guide the future of the nation and turn the fortunes of the economy around.

Adv Boko said UDC, once voted into power would turn the country into a transport, infrastructure, ICT and education hub thus creating many jobs they had previously promised. 

He said five years into UDC’s government 500 000 jobs would be created.

He said the manifesto, themed: Inclusive Growth, Quality Lives, was a contract between the UDC leadership and their people.

Adv Boko praised the stunning victory of Botswana sprinter and Olympic champion Tebogo Letsile who he said had brought joy to people low on hope.

He said the 4x400m men’s relay team had flown the national flag high and brought adulation to a united nation.

Chairperson of UDC Mr Motlatsi Molapise said change could only happen when leaders provided the desired leadership and enjoyed support from the masses.

He urged all delegates to embrace the spirit of change if they desired to make any change of regime. 

He said UDC had capable leaders who could fulfil the wishes of inclusive growth and quality lives.

Giving an outline of the manifesto, chairperson of the Botswana National Front (BNF), Dr Patrick Molutsi said the manifesto was drawn after intensive research and consultation with relevant stakeholders.

He said they engaged labour organisations, retiree associations among others who were not pleased with where the country was headed. He said Batswana wanted to be involved in the affairs of their own economy.

UDC vice president, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe said UDC was offering comprehensive package of reforms as an intervention measure to the plight of Batswana.

He said the manifesto was drawn from intensive research and development and offered an array of hope.

For his part, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse said his organisation was the only hope for unbuckling the chains of desperation in Batswana.

He said UDC pledged to build housing units for the poor and would charge no VAT for basic amenities such as electricity and water.

Presenting the UDC’s gender equality action plan, Ms Nono Kgafela-Mokoka said they had drawn a comprehensive plan to assist women who were hard hit by poverty and many social ills. 

She said women were also feeling the pinch of poor public health system in Botswana. ENDs