Gaborone - Botswana's government closed all primary and secondary schools on Monday after violent clashes between police and students angry over a strike by teachers and other public workers.
The violence began last week at a secondary school in Molepolole, a village 60km south-east of the capital Gaborone, and spread to schools across the country on Monday, prompting Education Minister Pelonomu Venson Moitoi to close schools indefinitely.
“We have a number of students in police custody who were arrested for violence and vandalism. They were arrested this afternoon after they turned violent during their protest,” said police spokesperson Dipheko Motube.
The education minister said in a statement the closure was needed to “safeguard the security of students, staff and government property”.
Students have missed most of their classes since teachers and other public-sector workers went on strike on April 18.
Protesting students have gone on a rampage, destroying school property, looting shops and demanding the government put an end to the strike.
“When the elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers,” one student said on Monday.
“We are tired of being taken for granted... The government has been silent about the situation in schools yet there are no teachers to teach.”
Unions are demanding a 16-percent salary increase, but the government says it cannot afford more than five percent.
Botswana, whose economy is heavily reliant on diamonds, was hard hit by the global economic crisis as demand for its gems plunged and revenues from a regional customs union also dived.
The economy shrank by 4.9% in 2009, but bounced back with 7.2% growth in 2010.
Government employees, who have not had a salary increase in three years, complain their buying power is shrinking in the face of inflation that hit 8.5 percent in March. - Sapa-AFP