The Botswana Congress Party Youth League (BCPYL) expresses deep concern and disappointment at the recent fuel price increase announced by the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority, effective 28 March 2026. The new prices—Petrol 95 at P20.52, Diesel 50ppm at P25.05, and paraffin at P23.66 per litre—represent not just an economic adjustment, but a direct assault on the livelihoods of ordinary Batswana.
Fuel is not a luxury; it is central to daily survival. Every increase triggers a chain reaction: higher transport costs, rising food prices, and escalating pressure on already strained households. It is the worker, the student, the vendor, the farmer, and the unemployed youth who bear the brunt. This decision will deepen poverty, increase inequality, and push many further into hardship.
For the youth, the impact is devastating. In a context of high unemployment and low wages, rising fuel costs mean fewer opportunities, higher commuting expenses, and increased difficulty in meeting basic needs. A government that claims to prioritize young people cannot continue to impose policies that disproportionately punish them.
This situation is made worse by the stark contrast between past promises and current reality. In 2022, statements attributed to the now Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Dithapelo Keorapetse, assured Batswana of “no fuel pain beyond 2024” under a new government, with commitments to cushion citizens through improved revenue measures.
These assurances created hope and formed part of the case for political change.
Today, Batswana are justified in asking: what happened to those promises? Leadership cannot be reduced to campaign rhetoric followed by inaction. A promise to the people is a public obligation, not a slogan.
Other governments have demonstrated that intervention is possible. Namibia has taken steps to cushion its citizens by reducing fuel levies by 50% for a defined period to stabilize prices. This reflects responsive and people-centered leadership—one that absorbs shocks rather than transferring them entirely to citizens.
The BCPYL calls on the UDC government to move beyond explanations of global oil pressures and implement meaningful relief measures. These should include temporary reductions in fuel taxes and levies, targeted support for public transport, measures to control rising food prices, and a clear national response to the cost-of-living crisis.
The reality is undeniable: every increase at the fuel pump multiplies across the economy. It reaches transport fares, food prices, and household expenses. It is the poor and the youth who absorb the greatest impact.
We reject the normalization of hardship. We reject leadership that remembers the people only during elections. Batswana deserve a government that acts with urgency, compassion, and accountability.
The UDC must be reminded: the people voted for relief, not excuses; for dignity, not deeper suffering; for leadership, not broken promises.
June June
President
Botswana Congress Party Youth League (BCPYL)
