- Promises to share a 100-day plan
- Curbs both domestic and international trips with large entourages
- Wants to cancel projects improperly awarded
- Masisi believes he left intact economic fundamentals
The newly elected Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) led administration aims to start with “low-hanging fruits” to implement its mandate, including restoring the country’s fiscal position. To address the nation’s dire fiscal situation, the administration is proposing several measures, such as reducing leadership travel.
Led by Duma Boko, the UDC scored a historic victory in last week’s general elections, ending nearly six decades of rule by the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). The new administration has yet to announce its 100-day plan, pending cabinet appointments but has promised to make it public once the government takes shape.
“We have long worked on it, but because the cabinet has not yet been announced and even the president has not yet been inaugurated, we are still holding on it,” said Dr. Patrick Molutsi, UDC Head of Strategy and Policy Committee.
“We will hand it over to the president and cabinet to study and agree on it, and then share with the public.”
Molutsi stated that the new government will be guided by its manifesto and begin with achievable goals. He assured that the 100-day plan would not be kept secret and would be shared publicly. While the plan remains on hold, Molutsi emphasised that the administration is committed to improving the country’s fiscal health.
“Firstly, we are going to curb both domestic and international trips with large entourages,” he said. “You won’t see the president traveling with a big entourage, either locally or internationally, which will reduce wastage.”
Molutsi noted that these interventions aim to build the country’s financial buffers and promised that once the new finance minister is appointed, they will address the media on these issues. “Once the minister has been appraised about the country’s fiscal position, they will announce more measures,” he said. “Where we find that the government has been paying ghost employees, we will investigate further.”
He added that any cases of corruption or ongoing infrastructure projects found to be improperly awarded will be canceled. “These are some of the minimal interventions we are proposing immediately,” he said.
The new government emphasised that for the next few months, it will operate within the budget passed by the previous party in February. According to Molutsi, they remain committed to implementing its mandate.
“The primary pillar of our manifesto is that this economy has the capacity to create jobs,” Molutsi stated. “This is when you consider the strategy we are proposing, which is called a developmental state approach.” He explained that this involves creating major economic enterprises that generate jobs and produce goods and services.
Molutsi clarified that the government does not exclude the private sector. “That is why the likes of De Beers will not be worried; they will not run away,” he said. He stressed the importance of building a strong indigenous private sector, citing China as an example of an economy based on this model. “These are things happening in countries like Singapore and Malaysia.”
With the party manifesto focused on the social sector—such as increasing old-age pensions, student allowances, health insurance, child allowances, unemployment benefits, and Ipelegeng wages—Molutsi highlighted that the government’s social sector budget would increase. The party has committed to raising the old-age pension to P1800 and lowering the eligibility age from 65 to 60. Additionally, it plans to pay National Community Service (Ipelegeng) workers P2500, provide free sanitary pads for primary and secondary school students, introduce a P4000 living wage, create between 450,000 and 500,000 jobs within five years, and ensure quality healthcare for all citizens.
“But when the economy grows, what is wrong with that?” Molutsi asked. “By adding that little P100, you are already stimulating the economy.” He emphasised that the party is dedicated to its social democratic development agenda.
Earlier in the week, during a joint press briefing with President Duma Boko, former President Mokgweetsi Masisi remarked that he is leaving with the economic fundamentals intact. “Look at our credit ratings and inflation rate, and yes, the Government Investment Account has decreased,” Masisi said. “There is a reason for that. Diamond sales have been below expectations and this is not unique to Botswana.”
Masisi explained that the government implemented austerity measures, starting in August and again in October, in response to this shortfall. “This is when you slow down spending to ensure you are not completely depleting your reserves,” he said. “In so doing, we ensure that those programs in place make sure people and livestock survival are affordable.”
He noted that the last time the country faced a financial shortfall was during COVID-19, but it managed to rebuild its financial reserves. “After those accumulations, we then started implementing robust programs, particularly in infrastructure, which are ongoing,” he said.
