Dramatis personae of the Mother of All Strikes

Khama
Khama

Monday last week marked five years since the historic civil servants industrial action which attracted over 90,000 workers around the country. Initially, the strike was planned to last for 10 days but was prolonged to eight weeks, as the government would not entertain a 16 percent increment demanded by workers. Government offered five percent. Below, Mmegi staff writer CHAKALISA DUBE assesses the role played by five major players during the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) strike in 2011 dubbed the mother of all strikes.

Johnson Motshwarakgole

The success of the strike can be attributed to Motshwarakgole, BOFEPUSU labour secretary. He gave the strike political direction. Motshwarakgole, an experienced trade unionist, is someone who wields much power and is often listened to.

Editor's Comment
Moswaane must now put up or hush

The Speaker, Dithapelo Keorapetse, delivered a judgment on the allegations made by Moswaane regarding an influx of substandard medicines into the country. After reviewing a dossier of evidence, including savingrammes, letters from BOMRA, and even a death certificate, the Speaker concluded that the Minister was guilty of grave exaggerations.The ruling did not dismiss Moswaane entirely though. It acknowledged that some medicines had been recalled,...

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