Employees of Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) who are picketing are threatening to disrupt power distribution throughout the country if the employer is not willing to meet their demands.
Information passed to this publication suggests that some employees who are picketing have vowed to bring the country to complete darkness unless their demands are met.
It is understood that the employees are strategizing on how they will disrupt power distribution countrywide.
Some recent power cuts that have been experienced in and around Gaborone have been attributed to sabotage by the aggrieved employees.
BPC says it is concerned about the picketing of employees whilst negotiations between the union and BPC are underway.
BPC spokesperson Sandy Mosarwa said BPC management is fully aware of the picketing campaign that is ongoing in various offices.
He said the employer is also very worried about the picketing as negotiations between the two parties have started.
“I am sorry that I will not be in position to divulge more information as to the negotiations of the two parties,” he said.
On allegations that suggest that some employees are threatening to disrupt power distribution or embark on go-slow when responding to emergency faults, he replied that he is not aware of the alleged plan.
Speaking to this publication secretary general of Botswana Power Corporation Workers Union BPCWN Bahithetswe Lentswe said “the union is not aware of allegations that the employee will disrupt power distribution.”
If those allegations are anything to go by, he said the union condemns them in the strongest terms adding that it would be unfortunate if such allegations are true.
Lentswe explained that since they started picketing throughout the country over salary increment the employer convened a meeting last Thursday to discuss wage increment.
He said at the meeting the union expressed disappointment at how the BPC management conducts itself towards employee demands by failing to fulfill its promises.
Lentswe said BPC assured the union that it will meet them on the 17th of this month after the management had met with the board to get a fresh mandate.
He indicated that as the union they are optimistic that both parties will resolve their differences amicably.
“Should the employer meet our demands, picketing will be a thing of the past,” he stated.
