A leading member of the Teachers Unions, Raymond Malinga, has told the striking workers in Molepolole to brace themselves for tough conditions ahead, but assured them that they will ultimately win in their efforts to get a salary increase.
Addressing the striking workers in Molepolole, Malinga said indications are that Government is divided, with many in cabinet calling on President Ian Khama to makie serious concessions to the workers.
“The only one person who is holding against our demands is the President, but it is only a matter of time before he sees things from our side.”
He told the workers to prepare themselves to take over state power, if their working conditions do not improve.
Malinga also predicted that students across the whole country will rebel against Government, if their teachers do not come back to class.
Addressing those workers who chose to go back to work, Malinga said they should come back to join the strike.
“We should forgive them. They are a part of us,” he said.
Malinga was speaking after the collapse of negotiations by Government and trade Union leaders.
Sunday Standard can confirm that pressure is building inside Government to make bigger concessions to the workers.
So far Governmenbt has said they can only give workers an increase of 5 percent, and even then effective September, a concession the workers have dismissed as a juoke.
They say the lowest they can settle for is 13 percent.
The Labour Committee of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party is understood to have called on Government, specifically President Ian Khama, to consider making more concessions to the workers if only to save the economy.
For his part, Khama is adamant that he will not increase salaries as a way of buying votes.
