This blemishes Botswana’s past known good records and ratings in good governance and democracy. Good governance includes rule of law, consultation, transparency, accountability, etc. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) led government has violated most of these values and therefore it is not surprising that it has been hauled over to account. Botswana is now among the rogue states that does not respect labour laws. This has a chilling effect of scaring potential investors and tourists, hence affecting job creation opportunities and socio-economic development of the country. This does not paint Botswana’s image well before the international community. It is embarrassing to note that Botswana violates these international laws while it has ratified all the violated conventions, including the core fundamental ILO standards. Domestically, the BDP led government has violated and or intends to amend the Public Service Act (PSA), Botswana Examinations Council (BEC), Trade Disputes Act (TDA) and they all flow from the ratified ILO conventions.
The BDP government has violated some of the following ratified conventions: Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise; Convention 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining; Convention 151 on Labour Relations (Public Service). The BDP led government has gone on to further trample on the UN Declaration of Human Rights: Article 20 (Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association) and Article 23 (Right to Desirable Work and to Join Trade Unions). Ironically, Botswana is a member of the United Nations Organisation and seats in the governing body of its agency, ILO.
