Government disappointed by annulment of Statutory Instrument on Essential Services

Government disappointed by annulment of Statutory Instrument on
Essential Services

Government wishes to express its disappointment at the move by
Parliament to annul Statutory Instrument No 49 of 2011 on essential
services.
The people of Botswana are reminded that the instrument was
issued under legislative powers given to the Minister of Labour Home and
Home Affairs by Parliament. The nation is further reminded that the
instrument was issued by government in order to protect those areas in
our economy that would cause the greatest harm to the livelihoods of
Batswana.

As it will be recalled, the instrument included Veterinary Services,
Diamond mining, sorting and cutting as well as teaching services and all
other services that support these three.

1. Failure to control foot and mouth disease in cattle has remained a
recurring threat to our cattle industry. Millions of pula have been
spent to make sure that Botswana remains FMD free and that the cattle
industry, that many Batswana are dependent upon, is protected. The
current spate of the disease appears to be more threatening than those
we have had before. We received reports that some union activists
attempted to influence those charged with the management of FMD to go on
strike. It is clear that any intensification of strike action in the
industry would clearly cause irreparable damage to our economy and the
livelihood of Batswana.

2. Diamonds are the lifeline to the economy of our country since our
policy clearly makes them a national wealth that all Batswana should
benefit from. A very large portion of our budget that pays for our
health, education and our social security programmes derives from our
diamond sales. It is quite clear that any prolonged strike action in the
sector would cause enormous harm to this life line. We are convinced
that after observing the effects of the last strike and recalling the
effects of past strike action in the mining sector, it is clear that
this is one area where no effort should be spared to safeguard our
future.

3. The recent resolution by Ntlo Ya Dikgosi calling on Government to
declare the education sector an essential service and appeals presented
to Government by parents at various Kgotla meetings, stand as clear
testimony of the extent to which the rights of children to an education
are at risk if Government does not provide safeguards. Less than two
years ago Government passed a law that made education a right for all
children. More recently, the Ministry of Education and Skills
Development has presented several cabinet memoranda seeking permission
to improve the welfare of teachers. These have included subsidy on
housing, scarce skills for Mathematics and Physics teachers.
Negotiations on hours of work and job content of teachers would have
been completed had the unions been present during the eight week period
of the strike. The largest portion of our national budget goes towards
education. This we done in order to distribute the wealth of this
country equitably. All Batswana deserve to be educated and equipped with
modern day tools of survival, as Government has been doing since
independence.

These points have to be stated because, much as Government has an
obligation to improve the welfare of its employees, it also has an even
greater responsibility to protect the right of children to an education.
In light of some of the unilateral decisions taken by teachers last
year, for example not to do sports, Government cannot say learning has
not been affected. The inability of Government to meet teacher union
demands over invigilation and marking of exams last year, followed by
the strike this year, has denied children access to learning and their
education has been affected. A failure by Government now to do anything
to safeguard the rights of children would be disastrous since it will
permanently rob a generation of their chance at the education that
earlier generations have enjoyed.

Government, because of its conviction on the value of the statutory
instrument as initially issued, will proceed as the rules demand for the
original issue to be revoked. Soon after that the Minister of Labour and
Home Affairs will re-issue the statutory instrument. Government urges
Batswana to impress upon their Members of Parliament to support the
instrument. Government will continue to engage the teachers and their
unions as it must. This instrument is intended to protect the interest
of the total economy and future generations.