WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT SONA
President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s last State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the 2024 general elections this week attracted mixed reactions from members of the public.
Nothing new at all, at times Batswana must learn to manage their expectations about their leaders and accept that they will never deal with issues including, unemployed teachers and nurses resulting in poor health care and massive failure of the students in the whole country, issues affected by a high ratio to which a professional ought to deal with. The second serious issues being rampant corruption rocking our country. We have turned into Nigeria and Angola, countries with the most corrupt leadership. We hope President Masisi will speak explicitly on these issues. I had hoped that SONA would be used to measure the capabilities of government, as well as the promises they’ve made in 2019, relating that to the manifesto which clearly touched on different issues like unemployment, and others. [Lorato Mabiletsa]
It is the same thing always. Every SONA ke re tlo dira sele le sele, but ganke go nna le, re dirile se, re kgonne se! [Reuben Otlogetswe]
I believe that because President Masisi mentioned construction projects of roads, and other infrastructure as well as agriculture transformation, Mmamabula electricity generation, automatically that would translate into jobs. We are excited! [John Motsumi]
I was looking forward to an update on President Masisi’s previous commitment to wind up Banyana farm and return same to state. A laudatory decision announced during SONA of 2022, it is important that we also know if that has been fulfilled. I also hope that opposition members in parliament would follow-up such issues. [Dikeledi Monais]
The country is fine, we do not have a problem with it, the biggest challenge is the leadership that governs this country. These are people who are selfcentered who don’t consider the wellbeing of the people. The leadership that does not want to listen to the cries of fellow countrymen from the opposition. [Sinvula Masule]
There is no feedback on last year’s promises and their success if any. So I heard new promises as usual. [Lefedile Andreck]
Botswana is well represented. We are blessed as a nation under the leadership of Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi [Kenty Thapelo]
There is absolutely nothing much about SONA, in actual fact, the SONA has lost its meaning to an extent that we are no longer interested in it, nor listen to it. It does not add value to our everyday lives. [Omphemetse Bontse]
SONA has turned out to be about modeling. Its meaning has lost its value. The rich still come and showcase the beauty of their families. [Gaborone David]