Ntuane�s reforms agenda bites BDP

Chakalisa Dube | Friday January 27, 2017 16:43

This is according to University of Botswana (UB) political science and international relations lecturer, Leonard Sesa. The UB academic was reacting to recent developments in which the Botswana Federation of Public Private Parastatals Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) announced that they have started a war to de-campaign the ruling party, because of its anti-workers' stance.

The mission to de-campaign the ruling party will last up to the 2019 general elections.

“As a segment of society with vested interest in the distribution of the economy of this country, we believe workers of this country should gear up to take an active role in the upcoming general elections (2019) with a view to punish those who are anti-labour. The only way in which we can protect our interest is to participate at the ballot,” said BOFEPUSU in a statement declaring support to the opposition this week.

Relations between President Ian Khama’s Government and trade Unions particularly the BOFEPUSU have reached an all time low since the 2011 civil servants strike dubbed ‘the mother of all strikes’. The Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) also announced a campaign to de-campaign the BDP recently because it believes the party is not representing the interest of its members.

“The BDP could have started mending relations with labour movements immediately when the current central committee assumed office two years ago. The BDP is paying the price for not listening to Ntuane. When he came into office two years ago, it was the best time to begin building relations with Unions,” Sesa said. The current BDP executive will leave office in July this year.

He continued: “It will be too late for the BDP to try to build relations with Unions now. Going into 2017 as a busy year, they will not have enough time to engage Unions.”

Even when the BDP changes tact and try to engage the Unions, Sesa believes the latter will not be willing to listen. “Judging by the attitudes of the Unions, I do not think they will be willing to sit down with the Government. They have made up their minds. Maybe.”

Despite Sesa’s position BOFEPUSU secretary general Tobokani Rari says that there is still room for salvation for the BDP. “If they change their deeds and policies with regards to workers rights then we will lend them our support. We will lend them our support if they prove that their policies and actions are better than that of the opposition,” Rari said.

However, Rari warned that time is running against the ruling party.

The reforms, which were titled, “BDP Reform Agenda Conversation Discussion Points”, recommended that the ruling party re-set its relations with labour movements in the country and other disaffected constituencies through rapprochement and other genuine outreach initiatives.

 The 22 reforms were part of Ntuane’s campaign promise while he was vying for the position of party SG in Mmadinare in July 2015. However, to this day none of Ntuane’s reforms have been implemented. Ahead of the Mmadinare congress many democrats were convinced that Ntuane’s reforms might be what the doctor has ordered for the BDP to revive its fortunes.

There have been suggestions that some within the party leadership are against the reforms. However, the BDP has denied such talk noting that the party is still in discussions to see how it can implement the reforms. Ntuane’s wish was to see the reforms gaining full momentum at the latest before the end of 2017. Ntuane recently maintained that he cannot discuss anything pertaining to the reforms with the media. “We have an internal exercise ongoing and when we are ready to share its outcome with the public we will do so,” said Ntuane when asked if he is willing to respond to questions pertaining to the reforms.