16 May 2021

Botswana Federation of Public, Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSO) on Friday launched a blue print policy document dubbed The Workers Charter.

Speaking at the launch in Tlokweng, BOFEPUSO president, Mr Johannes Tshukudu, stated that although the federation had its fair share of challenges in an effort to advocate for the working class, the federation had won many battles among them political challenges, division of the working class, and employees oppression.

Mr Tshukudu alleged that at its formative years, government made it difficult for the federation to register by interrupting programmes.

He stated that collapse of the bargaining council was intended for workers to lose faith in it.

However, he mentioned that despite the many challenges the federation faced, they continued to triumph in the fight for workers’ rights. He cited a case when BOFEPUSO reported Botswana government at the International Labour Organization (ILO) for interfering with freedom of the labour movement.

Furthermore, he said, it was the same federation that instituted the 2011 public workers industrious strike and the result was a decline on the popular vote of the ruling party.

He said the federation was still having a voice on issues of national interest. 

Of recent, he said, the federation was against the extension of the State of Emergency (SOE) stating that ‘we as a country cannot expect investors to invest in a country that is under SOE.’

The charter sought to spell out how the federation should approach all matters in the social, economic and political environment central to the existence and realisation of workers’ rights and their independence as citizens in a sovereign democratic state, he said.

The document, he said, shall be a trading tool that would articulate and tabulate the working class agenda, demands and expectations from all political leadership and employers.

The public availing of the charter was expected to form a solid foundation for cooperation with those in academia with a working class bias.

Moreover, the document addressed topical issues such as land, governance, corruption, health system, education, employment, and constitutional review, among many others.

Mr Tshukudu therefore implored all political formations to acquaint themselves with the document when drawing up their manifestos to have their position on national issues.

The document is a workers’ manifesto that should be of interest to political parties, academia and the media, he emphasized.

Ambassador of Saharawi Arab Democratic formerly Western Sahara nation, Mr Malainin Mohamed applauded BOFEPUSO for advocating for the workers’ rights.

He said ‘in Africa it was common that Africans do not share each other’s problems or struggles hence having a united Africa would be a far-fetched dream’.

Mr Mohammed pointed out that the nation of Sahara was still fighting for freedom, international law and territory.

He further highlighted that the conflict in Western Sahara was relevant to every African. 

He cautioned that the conflict in that country affected every African state because if they failed in their fight, all those small African countries would lose their rights and resources. 

So he called on everyone to stand in solidarity with the Saharawi people. Deliberating on the day’s message, Dr Dama Mosweunyane, said workers were impoverished therefore he called on trade unions to consider forming a workers’ political party to advocate for their concerns.

He said workers had made demands and had not been met, therefore formation of a political party would be the most ideal given the abundant human and institutional capital.

With a political party, he said, workers could come up with laws favouring workers and with the capital they have it was possible.

Botswana National Front (BNF) publicity secretary, Mr Justice Hunyepa said they could not encourage trade unions to have a political party and instead they as a political party proposed that a house of representatives be formed to cater for the civil society. 

This, he said, could only be accommodated if there would be constitutional review.

Chairman of communications and international relations committee for Botswana Democratic Party, Mr Banks Kentse assured trade unions that his party was committed to the comprehensive review of the constitution.

 He reiterated that the BDP led government’s position on having a solid relationship with trade unions. 

On other labour matters, he promised trade unions to be patient as they would be dealt with at the relevant ministries amid challenges owing to the pandemic.

Mr Shawn Ntlhaile said organised labour could propel real change, adding that the workers’ charter was the only step in the right direction that could ultimately have the working class at a decision making table. ENDS