https://en.sputniknews.africa/20241103/udc-victory-in-botswana-what-is-happening-here-is-unique-transition-in-every-way-says-expert-1069019871.html
UDC Victory in Botswana: What is Happening Here is 'Unique Transition in Every Way,' Says Expert
UDC Victory in Botswana: What is Happening Here is 'Unique Transition in Every Way,' Says Expert
Sputnik Africa
Botswana has witnessed a historic shift in its political landscape, with the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which held power for 58 years, losing a landslide... 03.11.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-11-03T18:31+0100
2024-11-03T18:31+0100
2024-11-05T12:17+0100
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duma boko
botswana
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The victory of the Duma Boko-led Umbrella for Democratic Change in the 2024 Botswana general election is a "unique transition in every way" and hold significant implications for Botswana's democratic legacy and its international standing, according to Ernest Moloi, Chief Sub Editor of the Botswana Guardian and the Midweek Sun newspapers and founder of the Pan-Afrikanist online news platform.According to Moloi, the new government's commitment to a self-reliant policy is evident in its focus on closing the wealth gap and empowering citizens. He emphasized the UDC's ideological leaning towards social welfare, with plans for a living wage of at least 4,000 pulas and the implementation of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy.Moloi also pointed to the UDC's historical links to the Soviet Union and its communist leanings, suggesting a potential shift in Botswana's foreign relations. "We are quite confident that they are going to turn around the fortunes of this country, and they're going to even expand the base of international relations," he said.According to the prominent journalist, the UDC's victory in the elections has fueled optimism about Botswana's potential to play a leading role in an African-led future, challenging the continent's reliance on external influence.Furthermore, Moloi believes the UDC's victory signifies a commitment to breaking free from inherited economic dependencies and establishing a robust and independent development model that prioritizes local resilience over foreign expectations.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20241103/botswanas-new-president-prioritizes-de-beers-diamond-sales-deal-seeking-swift-resolution-1069012059.html
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duma boko, botswana, africa, african union (au), southern africa development community (sadc), presidential election, elections, democracy, economic growth, africa insight
UDC Victory in Botswana: What is Happening Here is 'Unique Transition in Every Way,' Says Expert
18:31 03.11.2024 (Updated: 12:17 05.11.2024) Muhammad Nooh Osman
Writer/Editor
Botswana has witnessed a historic shift in its political landscape, with the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which held power for 58 years, losing a landslide election to the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), led by Duma Boko. The UDC secured 36 out of 61 constituencies, marking the country's first leadership change in nearly six decades.
The victory of the
Duma Boko-led Umbrella for Democratic Change in the 2024 Botswana general election is a "unique transition in every way" and hold significant implications for Botswana's democratic legacy and its international standing, according to
Ernest Moloi, Chief Sub Editor of the Botswana Guardian and the Midweek Sun newspapers and founder of the Pan-Afrikanist online news platform."It's been a smooth transfer of power from one government to another, and it is transparent, and it has been done transparently for everybody to see. So this is highly significant to what happened here. And it actually validates Botswana's position as a leading democratic nation in Africa," he told Sputnik Africa.
According to Moloi, the new government's commitment to a self-reliant policy is evident in its focus on closing the wealth gap and empowering citizens. He emphasized the UDC's ideological leaning towards social welfare, with plans for a living wage of at least 4,000 pulas and the implementation of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy.
"We have a policy called the Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy. Now, that has to be turned into law, because by doing so you are saying, I am empowering my people by giving them the necessary skills, the requisite resources, capital, intellectual," he said.
Moloi also pointed to the UDC's historical links to the Soviet Union and its communist leanings, suggesting a potential shift in Botswana's foreign relations. "We are quite confident that they are going to turn around the fortunes of this country, and they're going to even expand the base of international relations," he said.
According to the prominent journalist, the UDC's victory in the elections has fueled optimism about Botswana's potential to play a leading role in an African-led future, challenging the continent's reliance on external influence.
"The African Union envisages a United States of Africa, eventually politically, economically, socially, culturally, in all aspects. And we are already building institutions to realize that dream," he said, suggesting that Botswana, as the secretariat of SADC, can play a crucial role in disseminating information about the African Union's vision to citizens across the region.
Furthermore, Moloi believes the UDC's victory signifies a commitment to breaking free from inherited economic dependencies and establishing a robust and independent development model that prioritizes local resilience over foreign expectations.
"If you look at what happened with the Botswana De Beers diamond contract sales negotiations, you get an idea. The whole idea is to extricate ourselves from foreign dependence, to become fully independent by using our own resources," Moloi said.
