24 Oct 2024

Nocturnal activity grounded to a standstill on October 24 as the nation paid attention to a presidential debate involving the four candidates vying for national leadership in October 30 general elections.

Broadcast live on Botswana Television (BTV), Radio Botswana and streamed on the DailyNews Facebook page, the event captivated attention of the nation as they listened to the incumbent, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi debate with Advocate Duma Boko of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), Mr Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Mr Mephato Reatile of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF).

Each one of the candidates utilised their oratory skills to pronounce the policy direction they would use to take the country forward over the next five years.

President Masisi said having been elected for his first term in 2019, his government utilised public funds to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in order to save lives.

He said the BDP believed in assessing and managing the economy in a responsible manner.

Dr Masisi said the BDP government had worked on the structural transformation of Botswana's participation in the diamond sector, the country's largest foreign exchange earner, through negotiating a better deal with the De Beers Group, part of his party's means of unlocking economic value chains.

He further said if elected, his party would put finance in the pockets of Batswana through government schemes such as Temo Letlotlo, Thuo Letlotlo and Chema Chema, which benefitted the informal sector. 

For his part, Advocate Boko said the UDC policies were informed by a human rights approach to politics, which he said would ensure the right to quality life for all, liberty and equal protection before the law.

He said his party believed that no worker should earn below P4 000 in order to meet their basic living standards.

Advocate Boko said UDC sought to uplift lives through interventions meant to address poverty, which he described as besieging many citizens.

He pledged that his party would invest in an economic stimulus, which he said would be done through, among other things, reducing public funds wastage and raising wages.

Mr Saleshando said the BCP was concerned about the levels of poverty, unemployment and slow economic growth.

He said his party sought to build an economy at an eight per cent economic growth rate, which could generate 300 000 jobs and sustain a P4 000 minimum wage.

Mr Saleshando also said BCP looked to address the disparities between public and private education and healthcare.

He stressed that his party would generate jobs through utilising the country's resources to create value added finished products, instead of exporting raw materials.

BPF's Mr Reatile said his party sought to address the country's education sector by giving every child an opportunity, through mother tongue education and promoting skills development.

He said modern information communication technology training would be availed to Batswana learners should his party be given an opportunity.

Mr Reatile added that they believed that the solution to the country's economic challenges would come from consulting Batswana, and that his party would also look towards more prudent measures of public finance management.

He also said they sought to invest in agriculture through irrigation schemes, building and reviving cooperatives as well as empowering citizens by availing land. ENDS.