The neutral stand ahead of 2019 general elections, adopted by Botswana Federation of Public, Parastatal and Private Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) last week, while not surprising makes a mockery of the labour movement, exposes deep seated divisions and conflicting interests in the coalition of trade unions, argues STAFF WRITER DITIRO MOTLHABANE Neutral stand Throughout the week Tobokani Rari, BOFEPUSU and Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) Secretary General, was at pains trying to explain to all and sundry the neutral stand with regards the Federation’s position of aligning with any of the political formations that will be contesting the 2019 national general elections. Try as he did, Rari was not convincing. At best he was clutching at straws, if not waffling. He said BOFEPUSU convened an Extra – Ordinary Governing Council to discuss political alignment for the upcoming elections where it was decided the Federation will adopt a neutral stance. "As such, we would not align with any of the political formations that will be contesting the 2019 national general elections. This stance was adopted following an intense and robust debate by the Governing Council delegates. This decision was arrived at as a result of the absence of a guiding…