Opposition backs civil servants' strike

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Monday April 18, 2011 00:00

 

The leaders of the three parties told a press conference last Friday that they decided to back the strike after realising that government is not taking workers seriously. The press conference was addressed by Duma Boko of the Botswana National Front (BNF), Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and interim Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) leader, Gomolemo Motswaledi.

First to speak was Saleshando, who said that active unionism has become a vital element of Botswana's democracy and the growth of unions in the country has enhanced the system. He stated that unionists cannot afford to keep silent on important national issues, one of which is the salary disparity among the working class.

'We have very poor employed people,' he said.  Saleshando said that it is the role of government to ensure that its people have a dignified existence through better pay.

BMD interim leader Motswaledi said it is sad that Batswana have been made to believe a lie, that their country is the epitome of democracy when that is not the case. This he said was clear from government's refusal to accept workers' demands for a pay hike, under the pretext that the economy has not yet recovered from the recession.

He dismissed the excuse saying the same government continues to fund questionable projects and departments such as the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), yet it claims there is no money for workers. He said the strike is a loud statement calling for improved conditions for workers. 'The workers strike should pave way for good working environment and for future employees,' he said.

'Dangerous' is how Boko described government's attitude towards workers. He said that the workers have lost patience and now want change. He warned government that it would not be easy to control the direction of events once the strike gains momentum. Not in as many words, Boko said that by turning a deaf ear to workers' cry, government could inevitably bring about its own collapse, even before the 2014 general election, considering the current protest mood and calls for reform in the continent. He said that if matters reach boiling point, it will be difficult to wait for 2014 for the electoral process and no one wants this.