Some Batswana have expressed approval for the allocation of funds to political parties, as announced by Finance Minister, Ms. Peggy Serame on Monday. During her budget presentation, Ms. Serame unveiled a funding initiative for political parties amounting to P34.6 million for the 2024/2025 financial year, marking a historic first for Botswana. Francistown Mayor, Mr. Godisang Radisigo, welcomed this groundbreaking move, emphasizing that political funding had been long overdue in Botswana. He highlighted the increasing costs associated with political campaigns, which posed challenges for smaller parties to compete against larger ones with greater financial resources. Mr. Radisigo also stressed that the lack of political funding had influenced people's choices of representation. However, he emphasized the need for thorough auditing of the fund utilization by political parties and urged them to develop transparent plans for its utilization. Regarding the distribution of funds, Mr. Radisigo proposed that the size of each party should be taken into consideration to ensure equitable support for campaigning and representation. This, he believed, would level the playing field and prevent smaller parties from being disadvantaged. He further commended the government's investment in infrastructure and social welfare, identifying them as critical areas for enhancing the living standards of Batswana. Resident Mr. Agisanang Machete of Coloured New Stance praised Minister Serame as an innovative leader, describing her as the "mother of the nation." He viewed the funding initiative as a positive step towards equalizing opportunities for all political parties during campaigns and advancing democracy. Additionally, he applauded government efforts in sectors such as tourism, health, and environmental conservation. Mr. Machete lauded the budget speech for its focus on key ministries and the reconstruction of the Francistown-Maun road, underscoring Francistown's importance as a gateway for trade and investment in the northern corridor. Another resident, Mr. Tirelo Ditiro, commended the budget presentation for addressing the needs of young people, particularly in terms of employment and education access. He perceived the speech as a commitment to improving the lives of the youth. However, Mr. Kepaletswe Nkagisang of Donga expressed disappointment that the budget speech did not adequately address issues such as youth unemployment and healthcare challenges. He called for more attention to be given to healthcare and drug shortages in future budget speeches. Some residents suggested providing Setswana translations of the budget speech to ensure broader accessibility and understanding among citizens. Mr. Omphile Kebasea of Coloured Stance emphasized the importance of inclusive access to financial information and policy discussions, emphasizing that democracy thrives when all citizens can engage fully in such presentations.