Francistown West Member of Parliament, Ignatius Moswaane, has called on Batswana to show patience and understanding amid growing concerns over the economy and student welfare, saying the current administration inherited a country in deep financial crisis.

Moswaane has addressed mounting frustrations around the delayed disbursement of the school living allowance and the country’s worsening economic outlook, while firmly defending the eight-month-old Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government.

“I truly understand your concerns, and I’d like to offer some clarity to help us all view the situation with perspective,” he said.

Citing the dire economic conditions the UDC encountered upon assuming office, Moswaane painted a stark picture of the country’s fiscal state. “Take for example the issue of the UDC government—it’s been in power for about eight months now. In that short time, the economy had essentially collapsed to zero.”

He stressed that the government remains committed to the P2,500 school leaving allowance despite the delays.

“The UDC government remains committed to paying the P2,500 allowance; it’s only a matter of time,” Moswaane affirmed. “The delays are due to several critical factors.”

Moswaane outlined those factors, starting with the financial state of government when the UDC took over. “The government coffers were completely empty—absolutely nothing was left,” he stated.

“All the past Presidents inherited a government with P60 billion in reserves, yes, but that was before. By the time UDC took over, that money was gone.”

He added that only P2.1 billion was found in government accounts, a figure he described as “just loose change compared to what was needed.” Additionally, the new administration had to contend with a deficit of approximately P18 billion left by the previous government, which had to be addressed urgently between November 2024 and March 2025.

Responding to questions about why the allowance has not been increased, Moswaane pointed to the government’s decision to increase student access instead.

“It’s not that government is unwilling—rather than just increasing the amount, the government made a choice to expand the intake of tertiary students from 8,000 to 12,000, and now up to 40,000 students are receiving the allowance.”

He revealed that each student currently costs government around P80,000 annually, placing enormous strain on national resources.

“So yes, many children now have access to tertiary education who would have otherwise been left out, but the financial burden is enormous,” he said.

Despite the difficult circumstances, Moswaane urged citizens to remain hopeful and united. “Fellow citizens, the economy is in a critical state—these are not normal times. But I assure you, things will improve, so please do not lose hope.”

He emphasized the need for national unity and resilience. “Every Motswana must understand that we are fighting a battle to rebuild the nation’s economy. This cannot be done overnight, but with unity and commitment, we will succeed.”

He said the UDC has not failed. “We are working tooth and nail to fix what was broken. Eight months in power is a short time, and we inherited a government that was already in deep crisis.”

“What we need now is constructive criticism, not despair or blame. Let us build together. Mmualebe o a bo a bua—we must speak the truth to each other as a family.”

Moswaane currently serves as the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.