“A loving mother removes her breast and gives it to the hungry child to suckle. If she doesn’t have breast milk she would pat and say soothing words until the child is calm,” these words of wisdom are attributed to the leader of the First People of the Kalahari and human rights activist, Roy Sesana, in the wake of the public service workers’ strike.
“I don’t know if they have ears. There is no money. We will not give them money even if they strike for five years,” these arrogant words are attributed to the President of the Republic of Botswana, Ian Khama, in the wake of the public service workers’ strike.
For the first time in the history of labour disputes in Botswana, public service workers embarked on an eight-week long strike that paralyzed government operations.
At some point during the strike, schools had to close as there were no teachers. Health facilities had to close due to the stay away by doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Borders had to close leaving travelers stranded in no man’s land between South Africa and Botswana.
Workers and students experienced, many for the first time, the inside of police holding cells and the agonizing effect of tear gas. The ozone layer was not spared the wrath of the tear gas. Almost everything that has to function came to a standstill. Havoc replaced harmony in the streets of Molepolole, Mochudi, Francistown and Gaborone.
Whenever I make comments about this strike, I never beat about the bush when it comes to who should take the blame, or rather who should be credited for turning it into “the mother of all strikes”. I put the blame squarely on President Khama.
Even though he had the opportunity, and even the power, to end the strike prematurely right on its tracks, Khama chose to prolong it through his miscalculated approach.
I have always argued that this strike stretched on for too long, not because of government’s failure to heed the workers’ demands for wage increase. Rather, the strike was a result of government or, to be precise, Khama’s arrogant approach to the workers.
We didn’t need a brainy economist to explain to the workers how broke the government is, if at all it is. We only needed a level headed leader with interpersonal skills. We only needed an effective leader for effective leaders do not ignore conflicts.
Khama should take leadership courses so he can learn that a good leader doesn’t throw tantrums when confronted with conflicts. I hear he is not so fond of books but it would help him if he was to acquire books on leadership by Barbara White who observes: “A leader needs to function in an orderly and purposeful manner in situations of uncertainty. People look to their leader during times of uncertainty and unfamiliarity and find reassurance and security when the leader portrays confidence and a positive demeanor.” She further observes “not only does a good leader view a situation as a whole, but is able to break it down into sub parts for closer inspection. Good leaders are tolerant of ambiguity and remain calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose.
Storms, emotions, and crises come and go and a good leader takes these as part of the journey and keeps a cool head”.
I find Khama’s leadership wanting in many of the aforementioned qualities of a good leader.
As Roy Sesana rightly asserted, Khama should have found ways to calm down the striking workers. Khama should have used soothing words to stop the cries of the striking workers. It is not because government failed to pay the workers that the strike went on for such a long time; rather, it is because of the language chosen by the leadership that incensed the workers.
If reports of Khama’s statements during his recent visit to America are true, then we have a big problem in Khama as a leader. I don’t understand how a responsible leader can fly out of the country and accuse opposition parties of inciting the workers when he failed to address the same opposition leaders that he has the temerity to scold overseas.
It is very disturbing to hear that President Khama feels former President Masire should mind his business and not attempt to bring truce whenever there is a crisis in the country. Khama should consider Masire his first port of call whenever the country is faced with turmoil. After all Masire has been there and done that when it comes to the presidency.
By seeking wisdom from Masire, Khama would be showing respect for his late father who shared the same vision and wisdom with Masire. By telling Masire to go hang, if we are to believe the reports, is casting bad omen to his leadership (o a ineelela), because you don’t just chase away elderly people like Masire.
Still on the issue of the public service strike, I went to the GSS grounds on Monday morning and despite reports suggesting the strike was over, the presence of workers at the grounds painted a different picture. Public servants were still on strike by Monday morning even though government and union leaders had announced workers would be back at their work stations the very same Monday. I talked to some of the strikers and they told me that they do not agree with the decision taken by the union leaders to end or suspend the strike.
They argued that when the strike was initiated, the union leaders sought their opinion and, as such, they are baffled by their leaders’ decision to end the strike without seeking their opinion. They argue that by going back to work before government commits to the unconditional reinstatement of their sacked colleagues, they will be betraying their comrades in the struggle.
You see, I always avoid appearing to be inciting the workers more so that I am not part of them.
However, I feel no shame in expressing my disappointment at the decision taken by the union leaders to end the strike without consulting the people at the centre of the strike, the workers. Their alleged lack of consultation puts them in bad light. Already the workers feel betrayed by their leaders. Right now some people allege that the union leaders could have been bribed by government to end the strike.
Rumour is rife that government couldn’t stomach the thought of hosting America’s First Lady Michelle Obama while the strike was on and as such everything has been done to bring the union leaders to order.
True or false such reports are disturbing and I don’t understand how union leaders managed to fall into such an open trap.
Even if they have lined their pockets to end the strike, the union leaders ought to have addressed their members and knocked the same sense into them.
I have always said the strike owes its magnitude and impact to the essential workers who defied the court order that sought to have them back at work. Therefore, union leaders should avoid a situation where they will appear to be abandoning those workers who are now jobless as a result of staying put to their demand for wage increase even in the face of possible expulsions which later turned into reality.
Some of us know those union leaders as principled and strong leaders who can never accept any form of bribery to the detriment of the workers. The question is: how many of those workers on strike have the same belief as some of. How many of them will ever trust their leaders to be men and women of integrity. Will they ever trust them should a need for another strike arise?
In the meantime, Khama must be thumping his chest in jubilation. He took this to be a fight and I have no doubt he believes he has won the fight.
