Oarabile Mosikare
24 July 2008
Francistown — The Botswana People's Party (BPP) says the government must take over the Mmamabula coal project and develop the power station to reduce over reliance on ESKOM.
The BPP wants the government to invite a country that has the technology and the expertise to come and set up a nuclear power station in the Kgalagadi Desert.
The BPP passed and adopted the resolution during its 48th annual delegates conference held at Tonota College of Education over the long weekend. The government must start trade negotiations with the government of Angola which will lead to supply of oil from Angola to Botswana, the resolution says.
"A pipeline should be built from the oil fields of Angola directly to the village of Maun where an oil refinery can be built for supply of fuel to the rest of Botswana," the BPP says.
The oldest political party in the country also resolved that due to escalating oil prices and the resultant rise in transport charges, government should increase the number of passenger trains between Ramokgwebana and Ramatlabama. As a matter of urgency, the party calls upon the government to start irrigation farming to enable the country to be self-sufficient in production and supply of food to its people.
On other issues, the BPP resolved that whenever there are elections outside Botswana, the government must send people from all political parties in Botswana and not only BDP operatives as observers. The BPP also believes that instead of increasing the prices of beer, people should instead be educated on the dangers of alcohol just like it happened with smoking.
"Government has got no right to decide on the price of commodities produced by the private sector. What is the difference between our government and that of Zimbabwe which decides the prices of commodities?" the BPP gathering asked.
Lastly, the organisation will lobby other political organisations to demand a meeting with the Office of the President to discuss electoral reforms.
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