Soldiers need salary increase

Some of the issues I discuss about the BDF do generally apply to all the armed forces including the Botswana Police Service, Prisons and Rehabilitation Service and the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Service (DISS).

I have elected to address the universal issue of salaries. Even though I will be making much reference on the BDF, the truth of the matter applies to all other services in exclusion of the DISS. The latter has a separate pay structure that surpasses that of many parastatals at home and abroad. Last year, Government announced a three percent increase in the salaries of all non-unionised members of the civil service. A majority of these are found in the four law enforcement establishments listed above. Just last week, Carter Morupisi unilaterally announced a four percent pay increase that was going to all these services. The announcement has had a very short lifespan because the Industrial Court annulled all that on Tuesday.