The Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) has accused the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government of retaining and implementing a directive inherited from the previous Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) administration, sparking outrage over what it describes as excessive professional fees imposed on nurses and midwives.
In a briefing note dated 24 July 2026, BONU said the recently announced revised fees by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Botswana (NMCB) were linked to a Presidential directive issued under the former administration, calling on the current government to withdraw the policy.
The union’s position is that the UDC government has effectively continued with a BDP-era directive without reviewing its implications on healthcare workers already facing financial pressure.
The disputed directive, CAB 35A/2023 REV.2 dated 22 December 2023, directed the termination of government contributions or subventions to professional regulatory bodies, according to BONU.
The union argues that the directive has shifted the financial burden of maintaining professional regulatory institutions onto nurses, midwives and nursing students through increased fees.
BONU has urged the UDC administration to reverse the directive introduced by the previous government, warning that failure to do so could place an unfair financial burden on nurses, midwives and students entering the profession.
“BONU’s position is that regulatory bodies like NMCB cannot be financed by the underpaid Nurses and Midwives to serve the interests of the public,” the union stated.
The union said the establishment of regulatory bodies such as NMCB was a government responsibility aimed at protecting public safety by ensuring that nursing practitioners meet required professional standards.
BONU criticised the manner in which the fee increases were introduced, saying stakeholders were not meaningfully consulted before the changes were presented.
“Of particular concern is that these fees were announced in a forum that was purported to be a consultative meeting; however, it was clear that BONU and other stakeholders were invited only to be informed of these changes,” the union said.
The union described the magnitude of the increases as excessive and called for an urgent review through a genuine consultative process involving nurses, government and other stakeholders.
BONU has urged the UDC administration to reverse the directive introduced by the previous government, warning that failure to do so could place an unfair financial burden on nurses, midwives and students entering the profession.
“The current administration should withdraw the Presidential Directive issued by the previous administration which has a potential to place an undue financial burden on Nurses, Midwives and Nursing students,” BONU said.
The union said it would continue engaging the NMCB, relevant ministries and other stakeholders while keeping its members updated on developments.
