At Botswana Teachers Union (BTU), 14th June 2023 will go down in history as one of the darkest days in our country’s history.
On this day, which was just two days before the ‘Day of the African Child’, commonly known as ‘June 16’, two of our members were harassed, arrested and detained by the Mochudi Police while holding a peaceful trade union meeting at Phaphane Primary School.
The members were detained in intolerable conditions, and later released without a charge.
The police were summoned to the school by the school head that is intolerant of trade unionism and has vowed to deal with trade union members and teachers who are critical of his authoritarian leadership style and maladministration.
BTU shop steward was treated like a criminal when he was arrested and handcuffed in front of students and his children. This inhumane treatment was not only in violation of section 7 of the Constitution of the Republic of Botswana, but also traumatised the students and his children.
What is disheartening is that this school head spent many years masquerading as a trade unionist before his promotion. This action of calling the police to arrest trade union members for merely holding a meeting, together with his ill treatment of trade union members and teachers in general shows that he was never a true trade unionist.
BTU condemns the aforesaid harassment, arrest and detention of its members with the contempt it deserves for four reasons; * Firstly, it is in contravention of Section 13 of the Constitution of the Republic of Botswana in that it, without and justifiable cause, violated our members’ freedom of assembly and association, * Secondly, it is in contravention of Section 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Botswana in that it, without any justifiable cause, violated our members’ right to liberty through an unwarranted detention.
* Thirdly, it is in contravention of Section 7 of the Constitution of the Republic of Botswana in that it, without any justifiable cause, occasioned inhuman treatment on our members.
*Fourthly, it is in contravention of the Collective Labour Agreement between BTU continues on the next pageant government of Botswana, which allows BTU and its members to hold meetings within school premises. BTU shall forthwith move swiftly to make sure that our right to operate without any form of intimidation is protected.
BTU is assessing this incident with its lawyers with a view to seeking legal redress on harassment and illegal detention of our members. We encourage our members and shop stewards to remain resolute in standing against abuse of office by a few errant school heads, as the union will spare nothing to defend their rights.
NORMAN BARAEDI* is acting BFTU secretary general
