BOT50 Of Disunity, Despair, And Fear � BOFEPUSU
Staff Writer | Monday September 26, 2016 15:46
According to Tshukudu down the years after about two and half decades of independence things took a dramatic turn with emergence of corrupt and intolerant leadership that is focused on political preservation, adding that this has worsened further to this day.
“Forlornly this has reversed the gains of the Country. Today we note that democratic institutions such as ombudsman, DCEC, parliament has deteriorated a judiciary in emergency room and an executive tainted with sweeping and unaccounted for Presidential and powers”.
BOFEPUSU also notes that there is poverty facing Batswana, as unemployment which is facing mostly the youth and unemployment stand at between 17-18 per cent. “The beef sector is still struggling with the poor performance of BMC where farmers are even paid as late as four months, the crisis in Selibe Phikwe with the looming closure of BCL, high scale institutionalised corruption, media freedom under siege, trade violation of Trade Unions and workers’ rights, declining education and health sector”.
“With so many problems bedevilling the Country, We at BOFEPUSU are at pains and hitches to wish workers and Batswana to celebrate independence because life is not in the past but rather in the future. That is to say the concern of the Country should be in the next fifty years and crafting fortune for the future”. The BOFEPUSU adds that they have been further saddened that workers have been side lined in the preparations for BOT50 despite the fact that Workers and Trade Unions contributed tremendously in the growth and development of this Country. However when it came to recognising recipients of presidential awards for this independence the class of workers/trade unions was snubbed and the awards have since been politicised as a ruling class affair.
“Workers are living in terrible conditions of service with poor salaries and their efforts unrecognised. This indeed makes it difficult for celebration because after the 30th September, on the 1st October, reality will still be stirring at workers that they are poor”.
“As Botswana celebrate 50 years of independence we are saying most of Batswana don’t enjoy economic independence and this should be the focus of the Government of any day so that the riches of the Country translate to broader prosperity for Batswana and benefit all”, the BOFEPUSU leader concludes.