Two union leaders have been arrested and incarcerated in Serowe for allegedly inciting violence and offering lessons on how to make petrol bombs when addressing the striking public service employees.
Don't know anything about this alleged incident, however if one wanted to get arrested one couldn't have picked a more conspicuous way to incriminate oneself.
[Note: The unions have reduced their pay increase request to 12 percent. The article here linked is inaccurate.]
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=1144&dir=2011/May/Thursday26
The government is telling strikers to return to work or no talks. Mighty magnanimous of them: As long as we get what we want, we'll be happy to talk to you and let you know just exactly where you went wrong.
"We also find it unreasonable for the strike to continue considering that the government has made it clear that the demands of the unions cannot be met," [a government official] said.
[Again this article has the wrond pay raise figure.]
http://mg.co.za/article/2011-05-25-back-to-work-or-no-talks-botswana-tells-strikers/
Meanwhile, President Khama has had time to pen this take-me-darling-I'm-yours supplication to international capital:
Africa’s desire to integrate into the world economy can be witnessed in a number of ways, one of which is its willingness to alter domestic policies to create conducive business environment to enable integration into the world economy. The structural adjustment policies adopted in post-independent Africa serve as an example of the willingness of African governments, regardless of their successes or short comings, to create an environment that would attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and enhance trade.
Governments throughout Africa have been adjusting policies to better compete for FDI by, amongst others, developing investor friendly immigration laws, offering tax breaks, creation of industrial parks, promoting trade facilitation and protecting property right..
Tax breaks? They can't afford to give pay increases commensurate with inflation to their own, but they are offering sweetheart deals to foreign investors.
http://blogs.reuters.com/trnewsmaker/2011/05/25/africa-is-open-for-business/
