Motshwarakgole slams task force's proposals

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Thursday March 18, 2010 00:00

 

Speaking at a Public Service Unions rally held at the Gaborone Senior School grounds, Johnson Motshwarakgole said the unions will meet in the near future to talk about the recommendations, which include flogging on the bare back for disciplinary measures, the reintroduction of mephato around the country and widening jurisdiction of dikgosi over bogadi, among others.

The commission has deferred other recommendations pending consultations. The white paper has rejected recommendations to introduce a national dress code to be adopted in order to guide and provide 'standards that Batswana can practice with dignity and pride within the context of our national identity' However government rejected the recommendation.

Rejecting the recommendation, the white paper says it is not right to prescribe how people should dress as long as they are not dressed in an indecent manner. It stated that prescribing a national dress code and a national dress would not reduce the incidence of rape.

Motshwarakgole questioned how an unmarried man could be mandated with the responsibility of restoring marriages, as he himself is not even considered man enough to be included in such a discussion. 'I mean the chairperson of this commission is Kgosi Puso Gaborone, who is not married and has been sent by President Ian Khama who himself is also not married. They say they want to restore and uphold Setswana culture, while some of these recommendations do not even suit their current status,' Motshwarakgole said.

'A man who is not married in our culture is not allowed to sit in discussions surrounding marriage issues. When the married men sit to talk, such men are requested to stand up and leave. Their job in such events is to cook only. That is why many people nowadays do not value marriage ka gore manyalo jaanong ga a ilelwe jaaka bogologolo,' he said adding that the two cannot talk about marriage issues if they want to uphold the setswana culture.

Before then, he had told public service employees, who attended the rally, that the Minister of Health, Reverend John Seakgosing should apologise for talking ill about the unions at a kgotla meeting concerning the central government's take over of clinics. 'He must come and apologise to us and be told to assist those without belief in God who are in Parliament to see the light,' Motshwarakgole said.

Pelotshweu Baeng of the Botswana Land Board and Local Authorities Workers Union (BLLAWU) also critisised the minister and Reverend for his reported outburst. He says the health minister, 'who is also a man of the cloth should know that politicians are very economical with truths and he should desist from that. He should at all times refer to Exodus 20 especially the verse that talks about telling the truth at all times.'

Baeng said unionists are tired of politicians who refuse to address them as unions but opt to talk ill about them in kgotla meetings.

The unions will address a mass meeting in Mochudi today, one of the many planned in the forthcoming weeks to cover the entire country.