Do they really need microwaves?

The microwaves arrive at a time when we are yet to recover from the controversy surrounding the provision of fat cakes and soup for Ipelegeng workers under a programme that junior minister Botlhogile Tshireletso seriously believes will transform the lives of Batswana women.

The supply of microwaves and laptops to school teachers also comes at a time when parents have come under pressure to pay school fees and are hard put to meet high transport costs for their children and keep their families fed. It also finds the standoff between government and its employees over working conditions that resulted in a two-month long strike last year and when signs are that another could be coming.