The Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) has revealed that it will rush to the industrial court to, among others, stop outgoing Director of Information and Broadcasting, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo, from transferring Botswana Television staff members who have complained against him and reporter Gloria Kgosi.
This has been revealed by the Union’s President, Andrew Motsamai, in an interview with The Telegraph this week.
This comes after the collapse of mediation efforts between the employees and Kaboeamodimo.
Last year, close to sixteen employees launched a case against their boss, Kaboeamodimo, and another colleague, Kgosi, alleging, among others, malpractice, nepotism and verbal abuse as well as intimidation and use of transfers as punishment.
Following the complaint three of the lot, namely Thato Nthite, Badumedi Matsetse and Betty Dithuri, were slapped with letters transferring them from the Mass Media Complex news room.
“We have written to them asking for protection for all our members who have launched a complaint against the director not to be transferred,” said Motsamai “Because the mediation has not yielded results we shall be taking the matter to court.”
Motsamai said that the mediation failed because Kaboeamodimo blatantly refused to discuss any issues relating to Btv.
He added that since it was going to take time before the Union could formally register a case, the Union needed assurance that its members would not be transferred before the case is registered.
“It is clear he wants the issue to be settled by the court,” Motsamai stated.
The employees have accused Kaboeamodimo of politicizing Btv newsroom and imposing Kgosi, a junior reporter, on her seniors. Kaboeamodimo and Kgosi are also accused of hurling abusive insults.
Contacted for comment this week, Kabeamodimo refused to comment.
“You have all along been carrying your stories without my comment, so no comment,” he said.
