UDC March For Water
Monday, September 07, 2015
UDC members during the march on Friday
The main opposition, though stressing that the march was not a political move, had multitudes donned in the UDC colours and was supported by the smaller opposition Botswana Congress Party and the trade unions under the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU). The demonstrators, led by among others, the UDC secretary general, Ndaba Gaolathe, the Gaborone Central MP, Phenyo Butale and fellow opposition parliamentarians, seemed to be intent on delivering their message in the cold wet morning.
They carried political messages of demand and sang provocative songs pointed at the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and its leadership. President Ian Khama was the toast with some of the placards reading: ‘Khama le sa go kaila kaila re batla metsi’, ‘WUC e kae Thothi re e somarele’, ‘We want water not talk’.
Batswana who marched peacefully for 'Justice for Tshepi' demanded answers. They have now received a detailed account of police investigation and a promise that the file is with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The real test is whether the state now keeps its word without further prodding. In his address, the minister asked the nation to trust the process. He spoke of rigour, not neglect, and pointed to 10 months of...