Botswana’s President Duma Boko Follows Burkina Faso’s Traoré, Slashes Politician Pay to Boost Worker Wages
Botswana’s President Duma Boko Follows Burkina Faso’s Traoré, Slashes Politician Pay to Boost Worker Wages
In a bold and refreshing move echoing the leadership style of Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Botswana’s newly elected President, Duma Boko, has taken a decisive step to rebalance national priorities by cutting the salaries of politicians and raising the wages of civil servants and workers.
The policy shift, announced on Friday, has been widely praised across Africa and internationally as a model for pro-people governance. Boko, a seasoned lawyer and opposition figure turned president, says the decision is part of his administration’s agenda to make the system work for the majority, not the elite few.
Inspired by Traoré’s Pan-African Model
The move closely mirrors the example set by Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, who gained global attention for rejecting presidential luxuries, cutting government excesses, and redirecting funds to support soldiers, farmers, teachers, and healthcare workers.
Duma Boko’s adoption of this policy is being seen by analysts as a continuation of the rising wave of Pan-African populism—a call to strip governance of extravagance and return focus to the grassroots.
Key Highlights of the Botswana Reform:
30% salary cut for the President, Vice President, and Cabinet Ministers
Significant reductions in allowances and perks for lawmakers and top government appointees
20–40% increase in wages for teachers, nurses, police officers, and junior civil servants
Introduction of a national audit on government expenditures and official privileges
Plans to reinvest saved funds into public education, rural electrification, and youth employment schemes
A Bold Step in Africa’s New Political Culture
The development has been met with enthusiasm online under the hashtag #Afrocina, a growing social media campaign celebrating African leaders who embrace discipline, modesty, and people-centered policies. Citizens across the continent are now calling on their leaders to follow suit.
Critics argue that while symbolic, such cuts may not drastically change the economy—but supporters say it’s about restoring public trust, setting moral standards, and redirecting priorities.
With Botswana joining a growing list of African countries pushing back against elite-driven governance, the question remains: Will others follow the wave of revolutionary leadership sweeping across the continent?
Credit : Afrocina Newsroom
