Don't play into Khama's hands - Pilane

EDWARD BULE
Correspondent | Friday May 27, 2011 00:00

 

Addressing hundreds of BOFEPUSU members at Chedu Choga Freedom Square on Wednesday, Pilane said restraint was of the essence before he christened the place Revolution Square. The gifted orator advised his audience to eschew violence. 'Khama is a soldier and he is itching for a fight,' he said to a round of thunderous applause.

'Do not play into his hands by resorting to violence because that would give him the excuse he has been looking for. Do not give him the chance to use violence on you.'

The relief brought by Pilane's message of non-violence was palpable as it came a few hours after an address by Kabelo Gothaang. the Jwaneng VDC chairman had called on the crowd to change their five-week old strategy of singing, dancing and listening to speeches.

The militant's exhortation for 'the burning of this town' was shouted down with calls to  'go back and burn Jwaneng first'. Pilane, an attorney and former official BMD spokesman, made the disclaimer that he was talking to the audience not as a politician but a concerned Motswana.   He said as a patriot, it became impossible for him to look the other way when the workers were on the receiving of an injustice. It was time all patriots demonstrated solidarity with the workers because 'an injury to one is an injury to all,' Pilane said.

Assuring the striking workers that he had not come to tell them what to do, he promised to lend them his support in whatever they themselves decided to do within the context of their demand for better pay.

'I have read in the papers that you have thus far spent a lot of money in legal and other expenses. We are available. Use us for free. It is not only myself, but there are many other attorneys who would be ready to assist you for free,' the astute lawyer said to a deafening applause. Pilane has offered financial and free legal representation to Daniel Kwelagobe and Gomiolemo Motswaledi in the past when the two had problems with the ruling Botswana Democratic Party.

He said service delivery was contingent upon the workers and that as long as the workers were not taken seriously, the whole effort would come to naught. 'Khama needs to know that without the workers, there can be no delivery,' he stated. He challenged 'Khama and his friends to come out in the open and say what sacrifices they themselves have made before calling upon the workers to forgo a salary adjustment'.

He said if Khama's excuses were genuine, he could not have bought a caravan and a jet, refurbished the State House, or built houses for cabinet ministers and barracks at the State House, projects that cost the government millions of pula.  Pilane said although he had not yet read the letters of dismissal, government should have gone back to court after the workers had disregarded the court order instead of dismissing them. 

For his part, Ditiro Majadibodu of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) told the striking workers to 'remain steadfast because yours is a just course. You should have a clear conscience. If you remain resolute, thoughtful and committed, change will come to Botswana.'

At the same rally, Michael Mzwinila of the Botswana National Front (BNF) was given a standing ovation for pledging P1000.00 to the workers.