Saleshando slams Boko’s leadership style
Leader of Opposition (LOO), and President of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Dumelang Saleshando, has accused State President Duma Gideon Boko of abandoning his party manifesto and the promise of merit-based appointments in favour of an autocratic approach.
Speaking at his party’s Constitutional Conference on Saturday in Francistown, Saleshando came just short of labelling Boko a dictator, accusing him of making unilateral decisions without consulting Parliament.
“We were told this would be a meritocracy government, but what we’re witnessing is a kleptocracy,” fired Saleshando.
Addressing a packed Adansonia Hotel Conference Centre, the BCP leader and Maun North Member of Parliament said the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has abandoned its own manifesto, presenting the country’s democracy with new challenges.
“We now have a president who wants to govern alone, and this is not the first time we have had such a leader,” said Saleshando, his subliminal jab eliciting murmurs across the conference room.
The BCP President cited the recent announcement by President Boko that government intends to acquire a controlling stake in De Beers, and further stating that he already has willing investors to see the deal through.
As uncertainty grows around Anglo American’s plans to divest from the diamond giant, President Boko boldly announced on 22nd September in New York that his government is well advanced with plans to take a majority stake in De Beers by the end of October.
The President told international media that they are in talks with the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Oman to help finance an acquisition that would increase Botswana’s shareholding in De Beers to above 50 percent.
The diamond mining company is currently valued at $4.9 billion, with Botswana holding a 15 percent stake.
However, these announcements made more than 13,000 kilometres away in the United States did not sit well with the LOO, who said such major decisions require national consultation.
“The President revealed that he has some investors ready to buy De Beers shares, and these investors are only known to him. We don’t know on whose behalf they are buying these shares,” Saleshando said.
The veteran politician cautioned that no one can buy shares on behalf of a country and simply walk away, questioning the motives of the said investors.
“The President is not telling us what these investors are looking for in return,” warned Saleshando.
He further argued that such critical decisions are being made without consulting Parliament or even Cabinet.
“Even his own cabinet is not aware of these decisions. As the BCP and the official opposition, we have to point these things out,” he said.
Saleshando also told the conference that the President had unilaterally decided to accept dangerous ex-terrorists and convicts from American prisons in exchange for better duty tariffs.
“Botswana should never become a dumping ground for other nations,” he fired.
“This new Botswana is worse than the old Botswana and we’ll soon prove it with statistics,” concluded Saleshando as he rallied his lime troops to be ready to take state power in 2029.
