This government is so funny. Honestly, this government is just a big joke. I have never before, seen grown up men and women behave the way our leaders in government do. They are failing this nation and I can only hope their leadership deficiency is limited to the confines of the government enclave for I shudder to believe this could be a replica of how they run their social lives or even homes. Our leaders are full of anger. They are vindictive and divisive. They dwell so much on petty issues neglecting pertinent ones. They are often economical with the truth. They attach personal emotions to national issues. They behave like frustrated, dumped mistresses all out for vengeance.
You’re probably asking yourself what it is they dished out this time around to deserve my spit. It is admissible to state that government mishandled the just ended public service strike. It is quite clear government was caught napping when the rules of the strike were laid down. Government underestimated the strength and the bravery of public workers. Even as they snacked on sandwiches and biscuits during the signing of the Trade Dispute Act, which gave the workers unions the powers to stage legal strikes, I bet it never occurred to government officials what armour they were equipping the labour organizations with.
I’m still shocked that government is hell bent on gagging the workers. Government has moved swiftly to amend the Trade Dispute Act schedule on essential services. In essence, government has moved to bar almost all government employees from taking part in industrial strike actions. After failing to handle the just ended public service strike, which saw at least three quarters of public service employees downing tools, government has come out with guns blazing. Government has realized that many of its employees are eligible to go on strike because all along, it has been taking their services for granted and as such, never recognized them as essential services providers.
All along government has been treating teachers as a bunch of hopeless and useless people who have no aspirations for decent jobs. Teachers are still lowly paid because as far as our government is concerned, they are monkeys worth the peanuts. Their conditions of service are appalling and devoid of dignity. The irony of it all is, even though our leaders are the products of teachers, they continue to mistreat teachers with reckless abandon. Yes we know some of our leaders had brief interactions with teachers which could perhaps explain their lack of appreciation towards them. Now that teachers have proved how important they are, and how their absence could bring the education system on its knees, government has listed them among essential services. I have no problem with such a move because I fully acknowledge the important role played by teachers. Infact I have always known that teaching is an essential service. However, I do have a problem when government places teachers under this category without recognizing their essentiality. I would slap you across the face if you pronounced me a manager in your organization yet treat me like a garden boy (pun unintended). I say, if teachers are essential service providers, let them be treated as such not only through words but deeds.
Government has not only barred teachers from participating in industrial action. Veterinary officers too have been classified essential service providers. This was done after the northern part of the country was hit with foot and mouth disease as a result of the stay-away by veterinary officers. While all along government has treated veterinary officers as non entities who should be left to freeze in tents, now government realizes their importance, thanks to the strike. Only now government realizes her impotence on noticing their importance. Quite a number of other services have been included in the essential service category and if the unions are to stage another strike, the number of workers eligible for the strike would not even fill a classroom.
Still on this crazy government, a friend of mine thought I was crazy when I told him that President Khama has allegedly agreed to meet Members of Parliament to discuss the public service strike but on condition they do not tag along Member of Parliament for Lobatse, Nehemiah Modubule. This is why I say our leaders attach personal emotions to national issues. Infact what Khama is basically saying is, for as long as Modubule remains MP for Lobatse, the people in that area should forget about him ever listening to their voice, through their elected representative. Khama behaves like a head teacher who calls a staff meeting but orders one teacher not to attend because he has personal issues with the teacher. Infact as far as I know, Modubule does not have a problem with Khama the person but he has a problem with Khama the president.
So spoilt is Khama that he has turned his official position into a fiefdom. Khama ought to know that by meeting with Modubule he would not be extending any favors on the MP. I bet were he not the president, Modubule would care less to meet him. By seeking audience with Khama, Modubule is not going to talk about football or arrange a stag party. No, the MP wants to talk about national issues which have nothing to do with Khama’s personal life.
I don’t understand how the two men’s disdain for each other should be a stumbling block towards national duties. I don’t understand why Khama would want Modubule to say he loves him before they could meet. The president must be advised that tiro e tla pele,marato ko morago.
I was once again taken aback by our government’s treatment towards the President of Madagascar Andy Rajoelina. Instead of being provided VIP treatment during his stay in our country, president Rajoelina was treated like an ordinary citizen from Madagascar. Infact our foreign affairs minister made it clearly known that to them, he is just an ordinary citizen not worth our respect and recognition. I understand Rajoelina could have usurped the presidential powers through force. I cannot even choose who Skelemani and Khama should treat as important or ordinary. However, it was so embarrassing to have a visiting president queue at the airport, indeed like ordinary people. I still don’t understand why our government couldn’t just respect SADC which had invited Rajoelina here. Surely SADC in their invitation cited him as president of Madagascar. He might be occupying the presidential seat through a coup d’├®tat but what we need to appreciate is, he did so with the full support of his nation and the army. If the people of Madagascar recognize him as their president, who are we to dismiss him as a nobody. This government is crazy.
