Gaborone – Botswana President Duma Boko has told workers that the country’s ability to raise salaries is constrained by falling diamond revenues, even as he reaffirmed his personal commitment to the labour movement.
Boko made the remarks on Friday at the National Labour Day Commemoration held at Letlhakane Stadium, where he spoke candidly about the economic pressures bearing down on government finances.
“The challenges facing workers are not new to me,” the President said, pointing to his history of representing workers and advising trade unions before taking office.
While acknowledging that workers deserve salary increments, Boko told the gathering that declining diamond sales have significantly reduced government revenue, making it difficult to meet wage demands at this time.
He called on union leaders to shift their approach and become more solution-driven, urging them to bring constructive proposals to the table rather than simply identifying problems. He acknowledged that many of the country’s current difficulties were inherited but made clear he was not using that as an excuse.
“I have given myself three years to turn things around within my five-year mandate,” he declared.
Boko pointed to early signs of progress, telling the crowd that the Botswana Meat Commission has returned to profitability and settled outstanding debts owed to farmers. He expressed confidence that Botswana Railways and Air Botswana would follow the same path.
The President also renewed his administration’s push to attract foreign investment as a key pillar of economic recovery, calling on all Batswana to contribute to pulling the country out of its current difficulties.
He closed with a pledge of openness to the nation: “I will always lay bare the truth to Batswana, even when it is uncomfortable.”
Leave a comment