BOFEPUSU Boss Attacks Khama
Bonte Seepi | Monday September 2, 2019 13:02
Addressing a Botswana Sector of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) pre-conference debate here Thursday, Tshukudu accused Khama’s administration of oppressing workers. He said Khama thought he had power over everyone below him when he was still president.
“It’s a shame that in the past 10 years, Parliament turned into a place that brought about laws, which abused workers,” said Tshukudu. He said there was a clear indication that workers in Botswana were taken for granted, yet the country is where it is in terms of development because of the same workers.
He said politicians usually put themselves first and act as if they are the ones who developed the country.
“What have Botswana workers benefitted in the past 52 years if one may ask? Nothing! When we got independence in 1966, there was nothing in the country and workers developed it,” said Tshukudu.
“It is a pity because even the education system is structured such that only the government sustains people, but a good education (system) should be able to help one sustain themselves without the help of the government.
Our government wants us to work at Ipelegeng even when we retire; that is not education.”
He said it is not proper employment if someone turns destitute after retirement. Tshukudu said it was an irony as workers live in a mineral rich country and yet they are lowly paid to afford decent lives.
He said it was a pity that there are some people who still rally behind Khama today, after oppressive labour laws that were adopted during his administration.
He said if workers are in a journey of building a better Botswana, they must know that their rights come first. Tshukudu urged workers to avoid being used by political parties. He said even if workers help politicians, at the end of the day, the same politicians pass oppressive laws, instead of protecting the workers. He said there is no how a snake can turn into a Good Samaritan tomorrow.
He said as BOFEPUSU they won’t be intimidated by anyone, even if some laws can be passed clandestinely, they would challenge them. Giving a message of solidarity during the annual conference on Friday, Tshukudu said Botswana is a sovereign state hence the interest of the country is its citizen’s responsibility. He urged unionists to vote wisely.
Veteran trade unionist, representing the Manual Workers Union, Johnson Motshwarakgole advised unions to use their vote wisely, and warned against washing dirty linen in public.
He was referring to discussing sensitive union matters on social media.