Workers triumph against Goliath, the President
Correspondent | Thursday March 2, 2017 17:38
While previous Presidents had the same constitutional power at their disposal, the current President uses it to drive an agenda only best known to him and his ruling Botswana Democratic Party. The Botswana Constitution is like a loaded gun, which when left with a madman, can be used to shoot at everyone in sight. Manual Workers Union have to be applauded for their bold move. In addition to improving their members’ working and living conditions, they are also playing a watchdog role, providing checks and balances to all arms of government. As a results they have deflated the misconception that trade unions and other civil society organisations (CSO) only deal with their primary mandate. It is necessary and mandatory for CSOs to provide checks and balances across the governance sphere to ensure adherence to the rule of law, accountability, consultation and other democratic principles. Failure to provide such checks and balances is abdication of societal responsibility, leading to poor governance. It therefore cannot be accepted for CSOs to claim apolitical when the country is run down by politicians like the President and his Executive, in this instance.
President Ian Khama has abused several prerogatives which he is apparently empowered by the Constitution. He has refused professional advice from the Judicial Services Commission and has single handedly appointed Judges of his own choice. He has abused the prerogative of mercy by releasing convicted Kalafatis assassins amidst public outcry insinuations that the convicts were allegedly following presidential orders when they committed their unlawful act. The Francistown West 2013 Parliamentary by-election was postponed by Office of the President through a fraudulent petition signed by, among others, dead people. The by- elections were postponed despite protests from opposition parties because the Presidency had the Constitution on its side. Investigations into the matter have been stalled and the BDP activist involved has since been rewarded with a council appointment.
With the constitutional prerogatives, President Khama has either deported some foreigners or refused them entry visas as he supposedly deemed them opposition sympathisers and business competitors. Several foreign lawyers and other foreign citizens including Basarwa lawyer Gordon Bennet, Botswana Gazette newspaper lawyer Joao Salbany, EFF leader Julius Malema, American actor Rick Yune were slapped with ridiculous VISA obstacles in order to frustrate local citizens who had engaged their services.
The BDP led government through the Executive have moved into Parliament and introduced several oppressive laws while the citizens were innocently sleeping. The midnight amendment of the Trade Disputes Act and the Electoral Act was a brazen evil deed that can only be executed by demons and witches who work at the dead of night. The former classified teachers and other cadres as essential services providers while the latter is meant to rig elections through some Electronic Voter Machine (EVM). The BDP led Government feared to consult Batswana before such amendments were made because it knew they would be rejected. When God fearing citizens were busy praying at their different churches that fateful Sunday morning, four Cabinet Ministers, like a gang of Mafias, stealthily drove into Selibe Phikwe township and closed down the BCL mine, and without compassion throwing more than 5 000 workers into the streets. Typical, the reasons for the closure were fabricated lies. Recent media reports are that the mine has been offered some Arabs, whose identities and motives are unknown. The Khama Cabinet has further gone on to try to close down UNIGEM (Pty) Ltd by taking away the administration and management of the lucrative public officers’ vehicle and housing scheme. As if this is not enough, recently the same Cabinet surreptitiously moved again to close down BOTUSAFE (Pty) Ltd and Lesaka by taking away the management of the central registry and giving it to a known BDP activist’s company, only to be stopped by the courts. The three companies are owned by affiliates of the union federation, BOFEPUSU, which the BDP led government has vowed to destroy before the 2019 general elections. President Khama’s abuse of the Botswana Constitution continues as he refuses to issue a by-election writ for the Tlokweng constituency. Cde Same Bathobakae passed on in November 2016 and three months down the line the President refuses with the writ of elections.
The lack of announcement is because the BDP is disorganised and still embroiled in bitter factional fights in Tlokweng. This has left the competing party , UDC, in the dark, unable to adequately prepare. The BNF has long called for the independence of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and that they report directly to Parliament. We call on Batswana to shun the corrupt BDP and vote it out in all elections. The UDC provides hope for Batswana and should be voted into power in 2019.
Justin Hunyepa
BNF Publicity Secretary and UDC Labour
Secretary.