Africa-Press – Botswana. Former president, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has urged workers unions and religious leaders to remain apolitical.
When bidding the leaders farewell in Gaborone on Friday, Dr Masisi said leaders should not politicise unionism. He said he was pleased with unions as differences between his regime and the leadership were not an impediment for growth but an act of building the nation.
“Unionism is not a political party. You stand for the rights of workers. Do not politicise union work or union mission,” he said.
Dr Masisi said they had managed to move beyond their differences and union leaders were honourable in their resolutions.
He said regime change did not spell the end of mutual cooperation and that the incoming regime would need their usual cooperation and guidance.
Dr Masisi also said they were to be truthful and honest in their guidance and dealings as failure to do so could lead to problems that could directly affect them.
Former president Masisi said they were convinced that the programme they had put in the manifesto was doable.
“Clearly it was not good enough for the public and we respect their choice. So out of the respect for people, respect the choice that they made out of the respect for the country,” he said.
He said he and the former vice president Mr Slumber Tsogwane were going into retirement. He said he had particular interest in the issue of diamonds as it was a game changer.
“My Presidency and my party winning is not more important than the welfare of Botswana and my people, never,” he said.
For his part, Mr Johnson Motshwarakgole said the worst was over as they had dealt with a difficult regime before that of Dr Masisi.
Mr Motshwarakgole said after the 2011 strike, they made a resolution that the Botswana Democratic Party was to go and they spread the message through the workers.
He said since it did not materialise, they resolved to allow the masses to make decisions without the influence of the unions.
Mr Motshwaragole also said had they adopted the same trajectory with the 2024 general elections, it would have been worthless as the decision lied with the people. He said the smooth handover would forever define Botswana as a beacon of democracy.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
