Census enumerators threaten ‘tools down!’

Demand for payment escalates to strike threats

Just two days before the national population and housing census begins, Mogoditshane enumerators in Gaborone are threatening to pull out.

The disgruntled enumerators are not happy with Statistics Botswana and Mogoditshane/Thamaga Sub council over remunerations.

This past Monday, business came to a standstill at Tlotlo Hotel and Conference Centre where the enumerators have been undergoing training since the beginning of the month.

Monday was the last day of training and they were supposed to sit for a test. They refused and things got a bit chaotic, a strike was visibly looming and police were even called for intervention.

“We want our money, we have written letters to them demanding answers on the discrepancies we have observed but they are not willing to talk to us. They are not fair on us. They have to address us first,” said one of the enumerators at Tlotlo Hotel on Monday. One of the letters seen by this publication suggests that they had learnt that those residing outside Mogoditshane but living within greater Gaborone areas such as Mmopane, Gabane and Metsimotlhabe will be paid more compared to those residing in Mogoditshane. “Those in Mogoditshane will after the 14 days of training, receive only P1 500, while those from elsewhere are getting paid P6 412. We wish to state that the above mentioned is very unfair to us who stay in Mogoditshane, looking at the locality area. “The training is held at Tlotlo Hotel and Conference Hotel which is located in Block 5, meaning we are also outside of our locality. There is no public transport that takes us to the hotel, we reach there by using cabs. A difference of P4 900 has been noted and we deem it very unfair since we are attending the same training,” reads the letter. Mogoditshane enumerators want council and statistics Botswana to pay all equally so that they can be able to deal with the devastating effects of unemployment and mental issues that the youth are facing.

“We are willing to forgo the census counting if our plea is not attended to,” read the letter.

Another affected enumerator told this publication that unconfirmed reports allege that reason those in Mogoditshane are paid less is because they have not been included in the P300 housing allowance and the P50 dinner money given to those coming from outside. Reached for comment, Senior Assistant Council Secretary for Thamaga/ Mogoditshane Sub Council, Losika Mosarwa washed his hands clean from the matter. “They only came to me wanting to know whether Tlotlo Hotel was situated in Mogoditshane or Block 5 and I told them that the hotel falls in Mogoditshane locality,” he said. He further explained that the council is only a facilitator in the census because it will be happening in their area. “Anything to do with remunerations is the responsibility of Statistics Botswana,” he said.

At press time, Statistics Botswana was yet to respond to a questionnaire sent to them on the matter.

On Tuesday evening, Mogoditshane enumerators were yet to be paid their dues.