Molapise calls on BCL employees to revolt

Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday October 18, 2016 19:00

 

Addressing a political rally here over the weekend, Molapise called on Batswana not to be too tolerant, which gives the ruling party the liberty to do as it pleases.

He even called on Batswana to adopt some of the aggressive tactics that were employed by the South Africans during the liberation struggle days.

“If BCL were in South Africa, the government would not have closed the mine without following proper channels.

The employees would have aggressively fought against that. Government leaders were talking as they please at BCL, but the employees did not act,” Molapise said, as he urged Batswana to stop being way too docile.

Other speakers spoke of the urgent need for Batswana to change tact and start embracing critical thinking in order to take informed decisions that can help revive the country’s declining economy.

The Botswana People’s Party (BPP) chairperson, Richard Gudu, said that the country’s economy is in free fall because most Batswana do not question certain unjust economic decisions made by the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) government. Both Molapise, who is also BPP president, and Gudu were speaking at the launch of BPP candidate for the Kalakamati ward by-election, Madumela Matebu in Mbalambi village on Saturday.

The BPP is part of the UDC, an opposition coalition.

“The current dynamics with reference to the running of the country, especially the economy, paint a gloomy future for the nation. We (Batswana) have to start being critical thinkers.  Let us seriously interrogate the actions of the government and demand accountability,” Gudu said.

He added that if Batswana do not embrace critical thinking, the BDP would continue with its bad actions a development that may lead to the total collapse of the country.

“There are many examples in Africa where countries have collapsed because their governments were not held to account and critiqued on some bad decisions made,” Gudu said.

He added that the closure of the BCL Mine without consulting other stakeholders clearly shows that the BDP government takes Batswana lightly.

“Problems at BCL need a national dialogue, not government acting alone.  When vital stakeholders are not engaged, we are left to suspect that there was foul play.” “That is why we are calling Batswana to interrogate the actions of the government and take informed decisions which among them is to vote the UDC,” he said.  Former Botswana Congress Party national organising secretary, Vain Mamela shared the same sentiments as Gudu. “If we do not turn into critical thinkers we will head in the direction of Zimbabwe. 

Zimbabweans used to question less about some of the bad actions by their President Robert Mugabe and his government until things got out of hand.”

 “The country (Zimbabwe) is in doldrums today and it is not showing any signs of revival. Of recent some Zimbabweans have been questioning some actions of the government, but it is relatively too late,” he added.