RE: SOLIDARITY MESSAGE AGAINST BIUST SAGA

Reference is made to the above subject matter.

1. Botswana Federation of Public, Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) is deeply concerned regarding the issue of one of your own, Dr Malatsi Galani who was unceremoniously dismissed from work by his employer, BIUST for his heroic act. As the federation, we are disappointed by what the institution has done against one of us and we shall make sure that this issue does not die a natural death. This shameful practice by BIUST should never deter anyone in the workplace to report issues of corruption and maladministration that Dr Galani was fired for. As the federation we shall work together with his union, Botswana Sectors of Trade Union (BOSETU) to make sure that cde Galani has safely return to work. The kangaroo court that was established against Dr Galani clearly contravenes one of the eight International Labour Organizations (ILO) fundamental conventions, 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise that Botswana is a signatory to as a member of ILO and his freedom as a citizen of this country, because it is protected for by the Constitution.

It is shocking that an organization like BIUST which is led by educated men and women can fail a simple task of protecting a hero like Dr Galani in the workplace. This a serious defeat against organizing in the workplace and BIUST should be ashamed of their act because they are simply telling workers that they should not report corruption and maladministration in the future. As the labour centre, through BOSETU we shall stand up against these atrocious acts by BIUST and mobilize with our tripartite structure to denounce what has happened to this comrade of ours. We are calling on BIUST to reinstate Dr Galani and the frivolous charges against him also be dropped.

We are also calling on BIUST to pay all his benefits that he has not been awarded to while he was going through this emotionally challenging journey and that necessary support is given to him to return to work safely. BOFEPUSU will engage with BOSETU, BIUST management and government to make sure that this issue is solved amicably. We stand with BOSETU as they continue voicing against the injustice done against one of us. We support them also for reporting this matter to ILO because a lot of organizations in Botswana continues to trample against the rights of workers even though there are enshrined in the Constitution as the supreme law and eight ILO Fundamentals conventions that the country has signed and domesticated into laws.

Our track records as the federation on fighting for worker’s rights speaks for itself and we strongly believe that this is a small matter that BIUST need to swallow their pride and reinstate Dr Galani and apologize to us in the labour movement. We cannot allow workers’ rights to be trampled upon yet Botswana is a country that has been showered by different scholars for its democratic principle but when it comes workers ‘rights it is founding wanting. This is something that we in labour movement need to condemn with strong voice and united against organizations such as BIUST. As Karl Marx has said we should unite as workers because we got nothing to lose but our chains and we shall do on this matter.

Yours in workers’ struggle