Johannesburg — A FRACTIOUS relationship is developing between an increasingly politicised union leadership and Botswana's government over union representation, with the largest public sector unions challenging the state in court over what they say is a disingenuous attempt to undermine them.

Five public sector unions took the government to court in Lobatse last Thursday over a new law which the unions said required them to reapply to receive recognition as representative trade unions.

Before last week they were recognised by the government for collective bargaining purposes.

"They want us to apply afresh to receive recognition as trade unions but they claim they recognise us," said Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) president Andrew Motsamai.

"We went for a meeting to conclude the constitution of the collective bargaining council as is required by the new public service act, and were surprised when government asked us to produce numbers of union members. When you want us to verify and validate those numbers you are withholding recognition."

The BOPEU, the Botswana Secondary School Teachers Union, the Botswana Teachers Union and the Manual Workers Union together account for 90 000 of the 109 000 public sector union members in landlocked Botswana.

Civil society actors warned that attempts to "muzzle" unions were a violation of the freedom of association principle enshrined in the constitution.

"The docility of civil society especially on political matters has deceived government which is increasingly paranoid and repressive. Anyone who tries to exercise his freedom of expression such as the media and unions is met with wrath of government as demonstrated by this latest attempt to derecognise unions," said Thapelo Ndlovu of the Botswana unit of the Media Institute for Southern Africa.

Mr Ndlovu said the government's move was "political" following the recent split in the ruling party. The Botswana Movement for Democracy split from President Ian Khama's long-ruling Botswana Democratic Party after heated infighting.

The relationship with the government is becoming increasingly frayed with about 200 public service employees forcibly retired over the past year. Among complaints was a tax on the packages. "Retrenchment packages were taxed illegally and government has undertaken to pay 91-million pula outstanding," union secretary general Johnson Motswarakgole said.

Batatu Tafa, deputy director of DPSM, said there was no conspiracy by the government.