The President of the Umbrella for Democratic Change, Duma Boko, launched a scathing attack on the government over the sale of state owned enterprises. Boko who is also the Leader of Opposition says such uncalculated moves are not in the public interest and reduce national wealth.
This call comes just days after the government announced that they had reached a decision to sell the troubled Morupule B Power Plant. In a memo addressed to Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) staff, it was revealed that BPC has been running at a loss for the past 8 years (since 2009) and given the pressure and competing priorities on Government in the medium to long term , the Botswana Government can no longer sustainably support the corporation. “It is on this note that the shareholder made a decision to sell one of the assets of the Corporation being Morupule B 600 MW Power Plant to ensure reliable power supply and reduce the Corporation’s debts,” reads the statement.
In his cautionary advice for the government, Boko said “You are selling off state assets, you are impoverishing the state,” adding that the disposal of state assets drastically reduced the net wealth.
Reminding parliament about the recent closure of BCL which was placed under provisional liquidation a few weeks ago putting over 5000 jobs on the line, Boko said state owned enterprises are being sold off after being sunk into calamity, which according to him could have been prevented.
“We sit here in a representative capacity carrying out the mandate of law making, given to us under colour of Section 86 of the Constitution of this Republic which says, that you must make laws for the peace, order and good government of this country,” said the not so amused opposition leader.
Boko also indirectly attacked the Minister of Finance and Development Planning saying his assertions that the economy is working well are not reflective of the entire population but the wealthy few.
“Poverty is a gross violation of human rights; it mocks the rights enshrined under the Bill of rights in the Constitution of this Republic.”
