State-labour relations in Botswana, 1966-1990 : industrial relations in an emergent "liberal" capitalist democracy

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Abstract

Botswana is a formally liberal democratic country that is
known for its impressive economic growth and political
stability. The country has sometimes been referred to as
Africa's economic miracle and a shining example of democracy
in a continent notorious for economic mismanagement, military
dictatorships and one-party government. However, this picture
of Botswana is too superficial and generous.
This study seeks to delve beneath the surface of this much
acclaimed liberal democracy in order to explore the system of
labour repression that is the dark side of Botswana's
constitutional framework of individual rights and democratic
freedoms. In Botswana, the collective rights and freedoms of
trade unions, though formally recognized, are in fact severely
restricted. The state prevents workers in the public sector
from forming or belonging to trade unions at all. In the
private sector there are manifold constraints on industrial
bargaining, organisation and activity. These forms of control
over the trade union movement derive from the Botswana state's
position as a peripheral capitalist state.
These structures of social domination, however, have not gone
unchallenged by the labour movement. The growth and
development of the trade union movement and the challenges
posed by the labour movement to both the state and capital
have shifted the state towards limited labour reforms. This
shows that, while the Botswana state remains the guarantor of
private capital accumulation, its form is nevertheless
determined by the constellation of class forces in which it is
located. If the state is to maintain legitimacy and hegemony
in society, and not rely on coercion alone, it must accede to
some of the demands of the working class. Botswan&s liberal
democracy gives the working class space to fight for the
reduction of exploitation and to push the state toward more
social reforms.
At the same time, however, there is occurring a marked change
in how the state relates to labour - from what may be called a
strategy of "national economic development" to one more
influenced by neo-liberal economic and political approaches.
The conclusion I have reached in this analysis is that workers
and their unions need to develop a long term strategy to
increase their social weight in relation to the state and
capital. The strategic option recommended here is social
movement unionism. It is argued that because of the liberal
democratic form of Botswana capitalism, social movement
unionism, rather than overt political unionism stands a better
chance of success because this form of unionism will not split
the ranks of the workers along party lines.

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