A strike by public servants in diamond-rich Botswana is threatening the ruling party's 45-year grip on power, denting its image as the steward of one of Africa's success stories.
Their main union said more than 90000 workers were striking, bringing public services to a near halt and forcing schools, clinics and government offices to operate on skeleton staff.
The work stoppage, which began on April 18, has caused something of an identity crisis for the Botswana Democratic Party, which has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1966.
Public workers are demanding a 16% pay raise after a three-year freeze on salaries that the government blamed on the global economic crisis.
But while the economy bounced back from recession last year with 7.2% growth - after shrinking 4.9% in 2009 - the government said it cannot afford more than a 5% pay increase.
Botswana's economy, which relies heavily on diamonds, was hit hard by the global economic crisis as demand for its gems fell and revenue from the regional customs union dived.
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