Strike Averted, Lives Saved

It is dreadful to imagine what would have happened to thousands of patients across the country had the much talked about public service strike taken place. Even as deputy Health Minister, Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri addressed a hastily convened press conference on Friday evening, it was clear that health services in the country would have come to a halt as medical doctors, nurses, paramedics and other health staff under the aegis of the Botswana Federation of Public Service Unions (BOFEPUSO) would join other public servants on an indefinite strike beginning today. And government had no contingency plan whatsoever. The strike is over back-pay due to the workers.

Asked what government would do to avert a potential crisis situation in the event the health workers go on strike, Matlhabaphiri would not go beyond begging them not to strike.