Gaborone mayor takes swipe at government

Lerato Maleke | Tuesday September 23, 2014 16:51

In his lengthy council address yesterday, Nkgaigwa reiterated his plea to government to return both services of portable and wastewater usage, arguing that there have been serious delivery challenges at Water Utilities Corporation.

“It is dismally failing to deliver. It would be of great benefit to all Batswana to retain the services at local authorities which have been dealing with these issues and doing much better than the Corporation despite its resource advantage,” he said. The mayor further said although Botswana is classified as a middle-income country, this does not reflect on the lives of Batswana as most of them heavily depend on government.  “Our minerals could benefit us better if we review certain agreements we have signed as a country. It is a clear that Botswana produces the largest diamonds by value and quantity globally and this could increase our bargaining power,” he said. He added that the 50/50 partnership with De Beers should be reviewed.

He also said the nation is living in a global competitive world but have an equitable share of the natural resources, which he said are the cornerstone of the economy.

Nkgaiwa said Botswana is losing a lot of revenue that could have benefited its people out of this arrangement and that the beneficiation scheme as attributed by the relocation of the diamond trading company, has not benefited the country much as only 3,500 jobs were created.

He challenged government to up its game by providing the necessary training and funding for Batswana to venture into the diamond cutting, polishing and trading industries.

He said it is painful to see foreign companies dominating the diamond sector while Batswana are reduced to being spectators and labourers.

Nkaigwa also suggested that government devise a better minimum wage for citizens employed in the cutting, polishing and trading of diamonds.  “Considering the viability of such a sector, a minimum salary of P3,500 would be appropriate. Many companies take advantage and pay their employees peanuts, although they make huge profits which are transferred to their native countries,” he said.

 

Workers’ rights

Nkaigwa said government should review the Trade and Dispute Act of (2003), arguing that it is irrelevant. He said it does not protect employee’s interests and companies take advantage of its loopholes.  He said labour offices have lost authority and dilly-dally over pertient employee issues.  He emphasised that government should respect the bargaining council as a relevant structure established with the mandate of negotiating salaries and conditions of service for civil servants. “Union representative do not represent themselves but the interest of the employees who have mandated them,” he said.