Saleshando blasts government over economic mismanagement
The Leader of Opposition (LOO), Dumelang Saleshando has cautioned the Ministry for State President, Defence and Security, urging them to stop denying the reality of the country’s deepening economic crisis.
When responding to the budget speech this week under the theme “Choosing a new path,” the Member of Parliament for Maun North painted a grim picture of the country’s finances. Saleshando said the country was fast becoming less attractive to investors and called for urgent austerity measures.
He said that leaders cannot continue along the old path as he sees it happening, particularly at the Ministry for State Presidency. “Le ko lwapeng, fa itsholelo e wela ko tlase, ga e kake ya re motsadi a sena go re go fokodiwe go shaba ka nama, ene a bo a tswelela a reka takeaway malatsi otlhe.”
He complained about the current expenditure patterns and noted that fiscal deficits, rising debt, dwindling savings, high youth unemployment, and over-reliance on diamonds indicate that “business as usual has reached its limits.”
According to Saleshando the country does not only have a revenue problem, as demonstrated by the increasing revenue on an annual basis; but has an efficiency problem, a spending problem, and an accountability problem.
Saleshando advised that choosing a new path is about breaking away from routine budgeting that sustains deficits and instead embracing bold, evidence-driven reforms that prioritise efficiency, accountability, and inclusive growth. “It signals a shift from dependency on diamonds and broad subsidies toward strategic domestic resource mobilisation, innovation, and economic diversification.”
The LOO added that in a time of fiscal pressure and rising youth unemployment, it calls for smarter taxation, digitised revenue systems, strong governance and oversight, and targeted social protection that empowers rather than perpetuates dependency.
“Ultimately, it challenges the government and citizens alike to rethink mindsets — moving from business-as-usual governance to disciplined, transparent, and future-focused economic leadership aligned with Vision 2036, Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Saleshando further said under the previous administration, deficits grew from nearly balanced in 2021/22 to P11 billion in 2023/24, but under the new government, deficits have ballooned to over P20 billion annually—projected at P26.4 billion in 2026/27.
He said that recurrent spending continues to soar, now at roughly P80 billion, while development spending remains stagnant around P23 billion, meaning there was more borrowing not to invest but largely to sustain a growing wage bill and expanded social pledges.
