BOFEPUSU caught between left, right wing politics
Ryder Gabathuse | Friday September 15, 2023 12:22
Political bigwigs have started pulling the strings from behind the scenes selling their political ideologies ahead of an event that promises a lot of action as a clash of the titans.
The political parties’ move is heightened by the reality that the country is going to the polls next year and BOFEPUSU, with an estimated membership of about over 100,000 members, comes across as one of the largest constituencies that political organisations can only ignore at their own peril. There are reports emerging from the federation as affiliates canvass for votes that BOFEPUSU is reportedly used and targeted as a vehicle for political advancement by various political organisations.
For its militancy and robustness with a tendency to hold the government accountable, the Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) and the Botswana Land Boards and Local Authorities Workers Union (BLLAHWU) in particular, have for the longest time been associated with left wing trade unionism associated with opposition politics.
On the other hand, the Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) and the National Amalgamated Central, Local and Parastatal Workers Union (NACLPMWU) or simply Manual Workers Union, pursue right wing trade unionism.
During former president Ian Khama’s era, the collective notion was to support united opposition interests by the federation. This is mainly because during the 2011 strike dubbed the mother of all strikes, the public sector trade unions found a common ground of punishing the government of the day by establishing opposition interests.
Now, when President Mokgweetsi Masisi took over, influential trade unionists like Johnson Motshwarakgole, formerly at the helm of Manual Workers Union and now held as a consultant, shifted allegiance and favoured pro right wing trade unionism. Motshwarakgole has, however, maintained that he prefers left-centre wing trade unionism.
Motshwarakgole has allegedly been pulling the strings from behind influencing the most powerful single trade union in the country (Manual Workers Union) with over 35,000 members, to stick to their newfound love in right wing trade unionism, which pits them against left wing trade unionism associated with opposition politics. At the Francistown elections, new alignments are expected to emerge. But, traditionally, teacher trade unions of BOSETU and BTU have always pulled together even in elections like these. Although there are already reported divisions, the Manual Workers Union is working towards solidifying its relationship with the BTU, albeit the relationship is still shaky at the moment, but it is expected to strengthen. There is still more time, however, for anything more to happen. Information passed to Mmegi suggests that, BTU, the federation’s second largest affiliate might use its strength to fully support the Manual Workers Union and simply win the day. The BTU members are reportedly caught in between Manual Workers Union and the left wing trade unions. On the other hand, the left-wingers have been trying to spread their influence beyond BOSETU and BLLAHWU as they have been holding talks with the Botswana Nurses Union (BONU), which is reportedly torn between the left and the right. BOFEPUSU is deemed a very critical platform especially ahead of the 2024 General Election and when it endorses a political party, it might go a long way into swaying public opinion.
The Manual Workers Union has now taken its position through its lobby list, which has been widely distributed this week. They particularly have interest in the top five positions of the federation. The union has listed BTU for presidency (Gotlamang Oitsile), first vice president they prefer it to be taken by BOSETU (Winston Radikolo), second vice president BONU (Peter Baleseng), secretary-general - Manual Workers Union (Robert Rabasimane) and deputy secretary-general - BTU (Agang Gabana). The winner at the elective congress might also be determined by the method that will be used when voting. There is a likelihood that block voting might be used in which one vote represents the total number of delegates or any other method determined from the floor of the congress. Now, the Manual Workers Union and the BTU, with large members, might prefer block voting since they have the requisite numbers.
It is apparent that the two trade unions are likely to get a clean sweep of votes, as their main target is simply to win the top five influential positions of the federation.
As for BOSETU listed for the first vice president, they are simply sanitising. Quizzed about his behind the scenes influence of right wing trade unionism, veteran trade unionist, Motshwarakgole, vehemently denied wielding any influence ahead of today’s elective congress. Instead, he was steadfast that the Manual Workers Union pursues trade unionism of left-centre and this is despite by his own admission, that he is extremely leftist. “When I was directly at the helm of the Manual Workers Union, I was a disciplined cadre of the opposition Botswana National Front (BNF) and there was never a clash of my two interests at all,” Motshwarakgole told Mmegi amid accusations that he was influencing opinion with a leaning to right wing trade unionism. Motshwarakgole fears that because he has not been buying in some stories from his BOFEPUSU comrades, he has been viewed as a renegade hell-bent on selling the federation to the ruling elite. “Because I don’t believe in the manner in which some members of BOFEPUSU leadership are leading the federation, I am considered a wrong influence. That’s wrong,” he said.
The fiery trade unionist denied vehemently that he was sympathising with the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). “I am not a member of the BDP nor am I sympathetic to them in anyway. But, I must say that there are issues that when they (BDP members) talk to, I listen to them and I don’t see anything wrong with that,” he highlighted. Motshwarakgole hailed the Manual Workers Union to have been focused on workers issues and have never allowed partisan politics to affect their plans.
He highlighted that in the past public service salary increment, his trade union insisted on the minimum wage being raised to P2,500 before they could even touch on the across the board five percent wage increment. In the end, all their wishes were granted, which he said was the result of a disciplined union. “We maintained our position and rejected the government offering and insisted on the minimum wage, which was granted in the end. And you can’t achieve that without hard work,” he said.
The veteran trade unionist was worried that when as trade union leaders they do not agree, it is often misconstrued to mean that, “we are under the influence of the ruling BDP. That can’t be true.” He, however, indicated that when the ruling elite listens to their demands, they will always appreciate and cannot hide it. Turning to the lobby list that they sponsor, Motshwarakgole does not think anyone on the list is pro-BDP from any of the trade unions they are supporting. His word is that, they are going to work very hard to ensure their preferred list goes through as it is. “We really don’t expect a trade unionist who sits in the leadership of the union then serves as a spokesperson of a partisan political party. You really cannot do that,” Motshwarakgole insisted indicating that this position unfortunately, does not settle well with some of the federation leaders.