We will not be muzzled, vows Manual Workers Union
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday September 14, 2026 08:21
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, the union’s CEO, Robert Rabasimane, said trade unions had a broader responsibility than representing workers’ interests. He explained that the mandate of the Manual Workers, as it is known, also included providing checks and balances on governance and speaking out on issues affecting Batswana. “We are not partisan and our comments on matters of national interests are not partisan,” Rabasimane told journalists.
“We don’t belong to any political formation, but talk on behalf of the nation. When we see something that we feel we need to speak about, we will do so without fear.” His remarks come against the backdrop of growing tensions between the government and sections of organised labour. The latest friction follows comments by President Duma Boko at the launch of the Duma Boko School in Block 7, a project undertaken in partnership with the Moti Group. Boko took aim at union leaders who have criticised the project, further exposing what appears to be a widening rift between the administration and some of its former allies in the labour movement.
The relationship, which was once characterised by political solidarity, now appears to be entering a more confrontational phase, with unions accusing government of failing to adequately consult organised labour and recognise its concerns. Rabasimane dismissed suggestions that the Manual Workers’ criticism was politically motivated or that the union was acting on behalf of a particular political party. He said the union would continue to speak whenever it believed national interests were at stake. The union also raised concerns over recruitment practices within the public service. Rabasimane pointed to recent advertisements by the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) for 74 gardener positions and more than 300 cleaner positions. He questioned why recruitment for such positions was allegedly being centralised, arguing that this appeared to run contrary to the government’s decentralisation policy and provisions of the Public Service Act No. 30 of 2008.
“We are wondering why suddenly DPSM is taking away the powers that were delegated to those in districts to recruit for these positions,” he added. According to Rabasimane, the development raises concerns about whether recruitment is being conducted on merit or whether political considerations could be creeping into the process. The union’s consultant, Johnson Motshwarakgole, was equally defiant, saying the organisation would not retreat from issues it considers to be in the national interest. He also questioned the government’s partnership with the Moti Group, particularly the lack of clarity surrounding the terms of the arrangement.
Motshwarakgole said Batswana deserved to know what the group had been promised in exchange for constructing schools under the partnership. He also wanted to know why the group had not undertaken a similar initiative in South Africa, where it originates. “Why is it that Moti is building all these schools here and did not do the same in South Africa where he comes from?” Motshwarakgole asked. The union maintained that its questions were not intended to undermine government but to demand accountability and transparency.