Govt speaks with forked tongue on salary issue

While the Minister of Finance, Kenneth Matambo and Botswana Democratic Party MPs are encouraging unions and government representatives to continue negotiations for an increment, President Ian Khama and others say it is not an opportune time for a hike.

This has put Matambo in an awkward position and last week, he told Parliament that Khama's public statements that there will be no salary hike are consistent with the difficult situation facing the economy. "It is in light of this that His Excellency the President has also publicly made some statements of caution concerning this issue, notwithstanding the efforts of the parties involved in addressing this matter," Matambo said.