Dow Slams Botswana Government Over Poor Consultation Practices
Members of Parliament, Dr Unity Dow for Kgatleng West and Mr Boniface Mabeo for Gamalete, have voiced strong criticisms against the government during their contributions to the State-of-the-Nation Address. Their concerns centered on a perceived lack of consultation on critical issues, a departure from established policies, and a disconnect between government rhetoric and action.
Dr. Unity Dow highlighted the government's failure to involve Parliament and Batswana in significant policy shifts. She cited the announcement of the Citizenship by Investment Programme as a prime example, arguing that it was introduced without consultation, despite Batswana being the rightful owners of the country. Furthermore, Dr. Dow contended that the proposed price for citizenship was far too low, asserting that the country's citizenship held a greater value and should not be for sale. She also criticised the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government's reliance on direct appointment tenders, which she believes stifle competition and transparency, marking another departure from established norms.
Dr. Dow also expressed dismay that Batswana learned about the creation of a new city in Kgalagadi through the media, contrasting this with the previous government's approach to major projects like the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), which underwent parliamentary discussion and debate. She deemed it improper for the government to designate such a vast expanse of land without involving the populace. Similar concerns were raised regarding the proposed constitutional review, which Dr. Dow noted suffered from the same lack of consultation that led to the collapse of a previous review process. Addressing economic strategies, she described the Botswana Economic Transformation Plan and National Development Plan 12 as overloaded, unrealistic, and destined for failure, urging the government to prioritize for national progress. From her constituency's perspective, Dr. Dow reported ongoing waits for a hospital and residents' concerns about smoke from the Pilane landfill. She also questioned the government's clarity on assistance for farmers during the ploughing season and highlighted the poor state of school buildings and high youth unemployment in her area.
Adding to these criticisms, Gamalete MP Mr. Boniface Mabeo accused the government of being
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