The Botswana People’s Party (BPP) has sent a New Year message with a warning intonation as the country prepares for a change of guard. As President Festus Mogae prepares to leave office to give way to the son of the first president and current Vice President, Seretse Khama Ian Khama, the BPP’s Information and Publicity Secretary Kumbulani William says Khama’s credentials to lead have not been put to test.
“The challenge that we are facing is that the man is cagey and has failed to reveal his leadership style by not heading any ministry.” Kumbulani says that Khama has also failed to heal factionalism riddling the Botswana Democratic Party.
The BPP say 2008 will be an economically challenging year for Batswana. “After the boom of recent years, it will be no surprise if there is a slower pace of global growth. Already the credit crunch and high inter bank rates is a sign that there is loss of confidence between banks. This could easily spread to the wider economy,” Kumbulani said.
The BPP says government must enact a national salary review which will be inclusive of all workers in the country and not just the selected few.
“We urge the BDP government to institute another salary commission to look into salaries of construction workers commercial workers (shops, hotels, wholesalers and casual workers’ rates. These workers do contribute to the economy of this country and they need to be accorded the same respect as other workers,” he added.
The BPP accuses the government of lack of manpower forecasting and an education system that is irrelevant to the needs of the market.
“Our university is producing graduates who are not ready for the market. It is high time that the nation demanded an education system which can produce people who can use their knowledge and skill to create employment for themselves,” he charged.
|
