Justice Moroka blasts Unions

Trade unions should not only be seen as “mere peddlers of the democratic rhetoric” but become custodians of democratic principles, Francistown High Court Judge Lot Moroka has advised.

Officially opening the ongoing Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) congress in Palapye on Monday, Justice Moroka told unionists that trade unions should instead be seen as champions of the democratic process.

“It is my deep rooted belief that trade unions can achieve the foregoing by ensuring that they run their affairs in a democratic manner. Too often organisations find themselves at war as a result of a tyranny perpetuated by the minority or vice versa,” he said.

According to Justice Moroka, for trade unions to help build an inclusive nation, they should themselves run an inclusive organisation which protects the rights of the minority as jealously as they protect those of the majority.

“This therefore is a challenge to you to endeavour to run a clean house. Democracy is in itself not only an expensive undertaking but a culture that needs to be cultivated and strongly inculcated amongst the masses,” explained Moroka.

He said there is an overarching need for trade unions to be united in their quest to achieve amongst others economic prosperity and parity for the working class. For his part, former Secretary General of COSATU, Zwenlinzima Vavi advised BOPEU to ensure that there is no gap between union members and union leaders.

“They must be organically linked, so that no one, no counter force, is able to exploit the gaps that have opened up, and divert us from our historic mission. We have to be models of accountable democracy,” explained Vavi.

He said as the former COSATU leader he has learned that many union leaders are not merely supporting pro-capitalist policies, but are themselves in business, using workers’ money which is invested in trusts and funds, to enrich themselves, even becoming involved in companies in which unions members are in dispute with the employers.

“COSATU, once a bastion of integrity and democracy, regarded by large sections of the public for its high moral and political authority has degenerated, and has been captured and manipulated by anti-working class forces,” he said.

BOPEU is holding elections today in which Andrew Motsamai is defending his position as President against his first Deputy Sikalame Seitiso.