The Botswana Federation of Public, Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) has issued a stern call to the government, urging it to urgently address the grievances raised by doctors to avert a looming collapse of the public healthcare system. This follows growing unrest within the medical community, which has seen doctors scaling down their commitment to emergency call duties—a move BOFEPUSU believes could paralyse the country’s already strained health services.
BOFEPUSU Secretary General, Robert Rabasimane, expressed deep concern over the situation, warning that the doctors’ decision to respond to only one emergency call per month is likely to have a ripple effect on hospitals and clinics across Botswana. Rabasimane criticised the government for failing to provide satisfactory responses during negotiations, laying blame on its appointed negotiator for not securing terms that reflect the urgency and importance of the doctors’ demands.
He noted that the failure to engage meaningfully with healthcare professionals risks pushing more of them away from public service, compounding existing shortages and weakening access to timely medical care for thousands of citizens. Rabasimane emphasised that the current state of affairs demands immediate political will and leadership to resolve the matter before the situation worsens.
Meanwhile, tensions are also mounting within the education sector. Members of the Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) have turned their frustration toward their own leadership, accusing it of not adequately pressuring government to address longstanding issues affecting educators nationwide.
BTU Publicity Secretary Innocent Puso revealed that members recently summoned union leaders to express dissatisfaction with the current pace and impact of negotiations. Among their top concerns are the implementation of the Fan-Shaped Salary Structure, the status of corporal punishment in schools, and delays in resuming school sports—activities viewed as crucial to student development.
Puso said teachers feel sidelined and ignored, adding that there is growing dissatisfaction with what many see as a passive approach by union negotiators. The call from members is clear: they want a shift in strategy—one that is more assertive and results-driven.
The dual crises in both the health and education sectors highlight a broader tension between government and public service professionals. With morale low and discontent growing, union leaders are under pressure to adopt stronger advocacy tactics, while the government faces increasing scrutiny over its handling of critical public sector negotiations.
As BOFEPUSU and BTU amplify their concerns, all eyes are on government to see whether it will take decisive steps to engage constructively with these sectors. Failure to do so could lead to deeper disruptions in essential services and erode public confidence in the country’s capacity to manage its workforce and service delivery systems.
