A recent report from the National Amalgamated Local, Central Government & Parastatal Workers Union delivers a stinging critique of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government, branding it intolerant, arrogant, and dismissive of vital democratic voices.
Titled “A Clarion Crying Voice: UDC Government Failures – Is This the New Republic? Too Much Talk, Too Many Promises, Little Action,” the report draws parallels between the current administration and the shortcomings of the former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). The authors describe the UDC as “grossly fractious, gullible, and flammable,” and call upon patriotic forces to intervene.
“It should be noted that the UDC government entered governance decreeing: Moral superiority, progressive governance, intellectual rigour, inclusivity, participatory democracy, consultative governance, human rights, corruption busting, accountability, citizen empowerment, and a resolute commitment to democratic reforms,” the report observes.
The opening chapter, titled “Pain 1: Indiscreet Monopoly of Wisdom by the President,” accuses Botswana’s leadership of being dominated by an “angry president” who shuns counsel. “He inaptly believes that he is the most intelligent person to ever grace Botswana, to the point that he only advises himself,” the report states. “He derides the custodians of democracy; the media, Business Botswana, legislators, opposition parties; and students, insinuating they possess a limited intellectual pedigree.”
The union further argues that President Boko fails to grasp that a nation cannot be governed by law alone, questioning his perceived intellectual superiority amid growing national skepticism. “Just like the previous regime, he nicodimously calls a state of emergency caused by his incompetent health ministry with little or no consultation from the critical stakeholders of democracy. We are in the second year of his new government, but up to now we have never heard of a meeting intentionally called by the president to discuss thorny national issues with the leader of the opposition parties.”
Highlighting what they characterize as “weighty challenges of accountability,” the union laments the absence of meaningful, institutionalized dialogue among the pillars of good governance in Botswana. They underscore a glaring silence on the national stage despite Botswana facing one of the highest rates of rape and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) globally.
Youth unemployment also emerges as a critical crisis, with rates soaring to approximately 43.86% in 2024. Compounding these social issues is a severe and prolonged economic downturn, with Botswana’s economy contracting for six straight quarters as of the second quarter of 2025.
“We remain shocked that under such a catastrophic situation, the president remains a leader without other leaders, and this is amplifying in many ways, the antithesis of democracy as championed by his preferred ostracizing leadership. We are under a typical African dictatorship where everything is controlled by the president except the climate,” the union asserts.
To address these shortcomings, the report advocates for the establishment of a professional presidential advisory think tank lectern, a fusion of presidential advisory bodies and a formal platform for leadership discourse. This would function as a “laboratory of ideas,” fostering thought leadership through collaboration among progressive and innovative intellects.
“A laboratory of ideas is a collaborative platform of progressive and innovative intellect designed to foster innovation, interdisciplinary research, and creative problem-solving. This leadership genre helps to facilitate empowered workshops, smart brainstorming, and prototyping, connecting diverse experts to turn concepts into practical, transformative policies or products,” the report explains.
The envisioned institution would serve as an independent, specialized, and high-impact entity providing evidence-based research to guide executive decisions and, ultimately, the president.
“Key elements for success for the President’s advisory think tank lectern are unpretentious inclusive leadership, a clear scope of work, room for critique, humility, and well-informed communication strategies,” the union concludes.