The Botswana Congress Party Youth League (BCPYL) has issued a statement celebrating the resignation of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak under mounting public pressure last week.
Mubarak resigned his 30 years rule after an 18-day peaceful demonstration by the Egyptian citizenry influenced by the resignation of Tunisian President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali after similar pressure was exerted on him to resign by the Tunisian people.
“The BCP Youth League is pleased by these events in that the people took control of their destiny to bring down the long time oppressive regimes which ruled with an iron fist for their own selfish interest, void of the people’s will,” according to the party’s youth secretary general, Oarabile Motlaleng.
The BCP-YL says it believes in the rule of the people, by the people, for the people principle.
“Upon reflecting on our country’s democratic status, we are saddened that the current BDP regime has become more dictatorial in that key decisions, such as not increasing public servants salaries are taken by one individual (the President) with the people and parliament watching from the sidelines,” says Motlaleng
The party warns that “this is the kind of autocracy that will inspire the people to rightfully demand for what belongs to them, democracy”.
The party says the Egypt scenario is highly possible in the country, especially with the facts that the cost of living had escalated for the past five years with unemployment rising to unprecedented levels.
“It is also highly interesting to note that ever since President Khama ascended to the presidency in April 2008, there has never been public servants salaries increase. After witnessing these two historic events both in Egypt and Tunisia, the people of Botswana should know that power lies with them and not with one individual who continues to preside over misappropriation of the country’s resources while the youth live in abject poverty,” says Motlaleng.
