13 Nov 2025

Botswana’s current economic situation requires government to think outside the box and speedily implement policies that could transition the nation’s fortunes and transform people’s lives, Leader of the Opposition, Mr Dumelang Saleshando has said.

Speaking at the National Assembly on November 12 in his response to the State-of-the-Nation Address that had been presented by President Advocate Duma Boko on Monday, Mr Saleshando said government should work on innovative solutions since the nation was faced with a myriad of challenges.

In response to the health situation, Mr Saleshando said Botswana should come up with a national workforce strategy to recruit and retain health workers and give incentives for them to work in rural areas.

He called on government to work on cost cutting measures, proposing the lessening presidential external trips, reducing the size of the Cabinet, and spending less on state-led public events to better manage public funds.

Mr Saleshando further said the legislative framework should be reformed to enable Parliament to become independent from the executive and better execute its oversight role.

While in agreement with government on private sector growth, Mr Saleshando said he was worried that in the relentless pursuit of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Botswana could attract investors who implemented poor labour practices.

Also, he was critical of the proposed citizenship by investment initiative, lamenting that offering Botswana citizenship to global investors in exchange for payment could run the risk of luring criminal elements attempting ‘state capture.’

Mr Saleshando said Batswana were currently disillusioned, worried about lack of medication in public health facilities, high unemployment levels, low wages, workplace retrenchments, lack of access to land and home ownership opportunities as well as a generally depressed economy.

He said government should expedite the implementation and legislation of a P4,000 living wage, which he said should be the bare minimum basic salary of the lowest earning employee, instead of it being the culmination of the basic salary and benefits.

As part of empowering citizens and encouraging their participation in the tourism sector, Mr Saleshando proposed the development or a citizen tourism development fund.

He further said the National Internship and Apprenticeship Programme needed to be transformed towards ensuring young graduates to be absorbed into full employment, and for the Youth Development Fund to be similarly reviewed.

Furthermore, Mr Saleshando said the country’s foreign missions should be delegated to assist Batswana gain business and job opportunities across the world including in multilateral organisations.

He said within the next 12 months, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) would bring to Parliament a motion on a comprehensive constitutional review.

Mr Saleshando said the Umbrella Democratic Change should avoid the mistakes made by their predecessors in government, the Botswana Democratic Party and for them to implement their manifesto. ENDS