BOPEFUSU concerned about power and water crisis

Correspondent | Friday March 14, 2014 15:42

 

It is on those bases that BOFEPUSU is troubled by the ongoing power and water crisis in the country amidst a society that seems to be helpless and quiet on the matter.  This is despite it posing devastating economic repercussions both at household and national level.  Note that this is happening while the President of the country has gone public assuring citizens that there will be no further power cuts.  The circumstances are even more serious as he has gone into hiding pertaining to the matter.

It is essentially the fundamental role of the government to its citizens to provide quality public services such as water and power, which are basic needs for societal prosperity and quality standards of living.  This should involve a culture of serving that responds effectively to the needs of people.

BOFEPUSU speaking for the welfare of workers and Batswana in general call for social justice, sustainable development and a better quality of life for all and these include:

* Recognition that quality public services are required for sustainable economic growth; and

* For an equitable distribution of benefits of growth. 

*Commitment to the right of people to public services that are universal in their reach and availability. We find it as lack of good governance on the part of government that even at a time when there are rains it appears there is still a water crisis.  It is quite unfortunate and regrettable that despite millions of money belonging to Batswana having been lost in Morupule B there is still a power crisis.  These circumstances depict lack of pro-activeness on the part of government, and such failure must be condemned in strongest terms. 

We are of the view that any government like the one in Botswana that fails to provide utilities to its citizens is in breach of social contract with its citizenry caring less about the welfare of such citizenry more especially when services such as water and power do not become a priority for government.

Our call to the government is that, the greatest dignity that can be accorded to people is access to water, power and other essential services.  With this water and power crisis we have situations whereby some employees are forced to go to work unwashed and this takes away their dignity, lack of functional ablution at workplaces, while lack of power negatively impacts on resources for work execution.

BOFEPUSU is calling on all Batswana to rise up and demand better from the government to end this poor performance on the part of government.

We urge Batswana to participate in demonstrations that are soon to be mobilised towards demanding better services from the government.  This is a common agenda for all citizens and your participation is critically important.

 

Ketlhalefile Motshegwa

Deputy secretary general

BOFEPUSU