The Alliance for Progressives (AP), whose party joined the opposition coalition last year, was quick to tell the crowd at Molapo Piazza that the country’s economy deserves a proper revamp after decades on the sidelines. An economist by profession, Gaolathe’s constant message throughout his speech was that they plan to build the economy if the UDC wins the 2024 General Election.
“The last time a leader built this country was in the '70s so it's time we build our country,” he said. The UDC vice president added Botswana currently has one gigantic company Debswana. He said if they take over after the October polls, the plan is to ensure that Botswana has at least two more gigantic companies to complement the diamond mining company. “We have to stand up and build these gigantic companies. “But to achieve that we have to vote for leaders who are responsible and capable,” he said. Gaolathe said if Botswana can build Debswana-like companies the issue of unemployment would be solved.
He said they plan to create a world fund and through that they will buy more gigantic companies. He said with these companies Batswana will have shares and their children will be born in a world where they already have shares. “Our manifesto shows that in five years we are going to double the size of our economy.
We are also going to create 350,000 jobs in five years and these jobs will pay handsomely. The average wage in five years will be P9,000,” he highlighted. Gaolathe said as a way of building the economy they want to invest in infrastructure and build a railway from across Africa. UDC president, Boko, was supposed to launch Gaolathe but the latter indicated during the event that the Botswana National Front leader is out of the country. Instead, Gaolathe was launched by UDC chairman, Motlatsi Molapise. Gaolathe is seeking to reclaim the Gaborone Bonnington South constituency from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). He previously served as a member of the Parliament (MP) for the constituency between 2014 and 2019.
