Khama's government has fired nearly 2,000 strikers,[1] arrested another union leader,[2] suspended wage negotiations,[3] and is hiring scabs.[4]
Meanwhile, a coalition of humanitarian groups from neighboring South Africa are expressing concern:
Botswana civil society groups told South African partners that the protests were increasingly becoming violent as security forces sought to silence the group by "what ever means possible". Several student protestors in Ramotswa, Molepolole and Mochudi, have been arrested following protest action in response to the absence of teachers.
"Against the backdrop of widespread civic action on the African continent, the situation in Botswana is at risk of flaring beyond the current boycott into a severe crisis," said Watson Hamunakwadi of GCAP-SA. [5]
[1] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-27/botswana-fires-1-951-striking-state-workers-67-of-employees-stay-at-work.html
[2] http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/union-leader-arrested-charged-with-assault-as-botswana-strike-drags-on/2011/05/27/AGx9sjCH_story.html
[3] http://www.coastweek.com/xin_270511_03.htm
[4] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-27/botswana-to-reopen-schools-after-violence-state-worker-strike-continues.html
[5] http://www.businesslive.co.za/Feeds/inet/2011/05/27/sa-coalition-calls-for-end-to-tension-in-botswana
