Manual workers caution UDC over ‘Happy Omang’
The social media pseudo account - Happy Omang - continues to ruffle feathers across sectors with a growing criticism that it could be a government-sponsored account meant to attack those who differ with the government of the day.
The account which in its attack strategy is not far away from the controversial France Museveni account that attacked those who differed with the past regime of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) under the leadership of President Mokgweetsi Masisi, has set tongues wagging as the operator of the account has does not mince his/her words in defence of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
The France Museveni account would later attract a legal battle with MP Dr Unity Dow, who vowed to unmask the person or people behind the account.
The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the BDP leadership, together with their members, have lambasted Happy Omang, accusing the account of being, among others, enemies of progress and corruption.
The latest victim is veteran unionist Johnson Motshwarakgole, who is also a business consultant for the National Amalgamated Local, Central Government & Parastatal Workers Union, commonly known as Manual Workers Union.
Motshwarakgole has been lambasted by Omang after he made remarks against President Advocate Duma Boko, arguing that his government is failing Batswana and cautioning the president to desist from attacking everyone at every platform he gets to.
“We have read with both alarm and disappointment a post on Facebook by one 'Happy Omang' which seeks to spread untruths and falsehoods about Dr Johnson Motshwarakgole, who is our Trade Union Business Consultant.”
“In the post, Happy Omang says that Dr Johnson Motshwarakgole had wanted to be made a specially elected member of parliament by the UDC, adding that when this did not happen, he (Dr Motshwarakgole) then turned against the UDC. This is not only false but is also a saddening disregard of basic facts,” Manual Workers Deputy Chief Executive Officer Robert Rabasimane said.
According to Rabasimane, the post demonstrates a lack of appreciation of who Dr Johnson Motshwarakgole really is and, more importantly, what he stands for.
Motshwarakgole is a patriotic citizen who has played a big part in the formation of the UDC, he said, adding that time and time again, Motshwarakgole has himself stated that he remains a loyal member of the Botswana National Front, which is part of the UDC Coalition.
“As the Manual Workers Union, we have a rough idea of who Happy Omang really is. It is alleged and reported that debates inside various UDC WhatsApp groups are unhappy with this 'Happy Omang'.
In their discussions, allegations are that UDC members have openly attributed the pseudonym to their top leadership, assisted, they say, by a group of friends.
Rabasimane highlighted that in its last dying days, the previous BDP Government came up with 'France Museveni', who spread lies and falsehoods. This was a clear case of state-sponsored misinformation, and Museveni contributed in no small measure to the BDP's loss of power in 2024.
Manual Workers Union would like to take the responsibility to call on those within the UDC leadership who may be masquerading as Happy Omang to desist from the misinformation campaign that they have chosen, said the union.