The
Daily News Online (Botswana)
Tripartite
opposition pact launches manifesto
May 31, 2004
GABORONE �� Leader of the tripartite opposition pact,
Otsweletse Moupo has urged candidates to work vigorously to
win the forthcoming general elections and desist from
satirising political rallies.
Speaking at the launching of the pact's manifesto in
Gaborone over the weekend, Moupo said the quest for freedom
from BDP rule must be their uniting force regardless of party
inclination.
"Anybody who is against this pact is against good
governance and democracy." He said pact members have a
firm believe that BDP policies have over the years created
glaring social and economic inequalities and thus must be done
away with in the coming elections.
Moupo encouraged the candidates to use the manifesto as
their tool to woo the electorate into their ranks.
He also assured pact followers that unlike the BDP leaders,
they are not vying for elections for selfish personal
aggrandisement but rather the drive to change the life of
Batswana.
The economy, he said benefits a few citizens while some
Batswana wallow in poverty In the manifesto, the pact states
that it shall develop a dynamic, progressive and democratic
cultural policy that will enrich and emancipate Batswana from
all feelings of doubt and inadequacy and instil a sense of
pride in their cultural heritage.
On political representation, the pact says that it shall
introduce a system of proportional representation as a
guarantee of political stability and national consensus.
The pact argues that the current system where the President
is immune from both the legal process and political control is
undemocratic.
If given the mandate to rule, the pact promises to observe
the doctrine of separation of powers and ensure that
parliament has the power to impeach the president for
impropriety.
They also intend to ensure that all private funding for
political parties and donor names are made public and create a
state fund to support all political parties Once in government
the pact intends to adopt a pay structure and conditions of
service that reflect the peculiar nature of employment in
specialised cadres such as teaching and the medical services.
On defence and security the pact government shall
"formulate a national defence policy that will address
not only the role of women in the military, but also the role
of the military in peace times, civil defence forces and in
operations other than war.
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