11 Nov 2025

President Advocate Duma Boko’s 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), his second as head of state, has ignited a fervent, citizen-centric agenda, framing poverty as a “human rights abomination” and pledging immediate, measurable upliftment through social safety nets and green innovation, according to the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) executive secretary and director of Strategy and Policy, Dr Patrick Molutsi.

Reflecting on the address delivered on Monday, Dr Molutsi told BOPA that the speech was firmly anchored on the UDC manifesto, clearly outlining achievements over the past 12 months, and detailed the new administration’s promises for the nation moving forward.

For instance, he highlighted the introduction of sponsorships for master’s and PhD students in the education sector as a step in the right direction.

Dr Molutsi said that he was particularly excited about the P200 million fund drawn from the alcohol levy to empower youth and the creative industry, an initiative that would not only help young people earn a decent living but also create sustainable jobs.

In line with skills transfer for youth, Dr Molutsi praised the launch of the International Graduate Development Programme, a rolling two-year initiative in which young graduates would work across De Beers’ global operations to develop future-fit skills for the diamond industry.

He also welcomed the revamped Ipelegeng programme and TVET reforms, which would jointly expand beneficiaries’ skill sets, enabling them to start and grow sustainable businesses capable of employing others.

Dr Molutsi reiterated his enthusiasm for the government’s stance on tackling drug and alcohol abuse, noting that the new 50-bed, youth-friendly rehabilitation centre in Serowe would ease a significant national burden.

He said President Boko laid a clear foundation for sectors that would create new employment opportunities for Batswana, while also addressing the development of access roads and railway infrastructure, projects that would generate jobs and enhance intra-SADC connectivity for easier trade.

Dr Molutsi said the President outlined new pathways to revitalise the agricultural sector, including a programme to increase the national herd through animal health inspections, reproductive diagnostics, artificial insemination, and farmer training in sustainable livestock farming.

The national cattle herd has declined from three million in the 1970s to an estimated 1.7 million today, with off-take rates languishing at six per cent against a recommended 15 per cent.

He further appreciated the new Botswana Mercantile Exchange intervention, which he said would deliver better proceeds to farmers and boost farm-level production.

The primary challenge for farmers has been the ridiculously low prices offered by the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) and the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB). With farm produce now open to sale through the stock market, prices would be globalised, attracting higher rates.

Dr Molutsi noted that these newly modelled programmes would be cascaded by parent ministries and departments in the coming weeks, adding that the short timelines announced by the President deliberately demonstrated the administration’s agility to build a better Botswana.

Notably, he welcomed the introduction of a nationwide cleaning campaign to tidy up the country. Dr Molutsi said the UDC administration had noted a growing communication gap with Batswana and that its strategy office was devising ways to onboard citizens on the new government’s priorities.

To achieve this, he said they were ready to collaborate with civil society organisations and the media, to ensure clear messaging across the country. ENDS