Divided they fall

Perhaps it is an appropriate time to revisit this slogan by Marx following the divisions that currently bedevil the labour movement in Botswana. It is common knowledge that the powerful labour federation Botswana Federation of Public Service Unions (BOFEPUSU) is going through a tumultuous period.

At their recent congress in Palapye, Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) voted to leave BOFEPUSU following a strained relationship between the union and other public service unions. BOPEU’s main gripe is that the federation has sidelined it on very important labour matters. BOPEU also feels that BOFEPUSU is a politicised organisation that is flirting with the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change.