BOFEPUSU to fund candidates in 2014

Lebogang Mosikare
Correspondent | Thursday August 29, 2013 00:00

 

However, he could not say whether the funding would be extended to those vying for political office under the banner of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).'We are still to go to a special congress to determine who will benefit from the funding,' he said in response to a question over the fate of BDP aspirants.However, Motshegwa said BOFEPUSU interests will be served better if it has influence over people who control the levers of power.

Another BOFEPUSU activist, Lebang Ramaphane encouraged members to go and register in large numbers in the upcoming voter registration billed for October 4 to 27.He implored the union members to think of their colleagues who were fired from work for participating in the 2011 public sector strike when casting their votes next year. 'Your votes should determine who your employer is next year. It should be a government that has your interests at heart. It should also be MPs and councillors who care about workers' plight,' said Ramaphane.Kabelo Ditsheko, accused union members of betraying the workers' struggle by continuing to vote for the BDP while it is clear that the party has no interest in addressing their welfare. He said problems in working conditions can be addressed by removing the BDP from power in general elections next year.

Another member, Leano Moseki, implored BOFEPUSU to align with a political party just like the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). He said BOFEPUSU should align with the opposition because BDP has failed to address its concerns.Responding to some of the comments, Motshegwa said BOFEPUSU's fight with government is no longer a labour issue but an economic and political one that needs a political solution.He encouraged the general membership of BOFEPUSU to punish all politicians who did not support the public sector strike in 2011.