Barely a year after it was voted into office, the executive of Botswana Bank Employees Union (BOBEU) is on the verge of collapse following some differences between the committee members.
Other members of the executive are calling on the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) to come in to investigate allegations of corruption practices at the union secretariat.
The Secretary General of the Union Lebogang Keabetswe confirmed to this publication that the executive committee is deeply divided.
“It is now in the open that the Chairman has his own faction while I as the Secretary General also have my own faction which is really uncalled for,” she said.
Keabetswe added that what was happening is heartbreaking.
“Since we were elected last May in Phikwe, we took some resolutions that were supposed to have been implemented, but sadly nothing has been done. Instead some of us have been backstabbed by other committee members.”
She said the entire membership want the union to be audited but the committee is dragging its feet to implement that resolution.
“I am not suggesting that there might be some mismanagement of funds within the union but the membership has long requested for the union to be audited therefore the committee should implement what is required of it,” said Keabetswe.
She also said she will not be resigning until differences are settled. “Or we will have to go for new elections. Personally I feel that DCEC should be called in and probe the union.”
She indicated that they have not yet reported their differences to Botswana Federation of Trade Unions.
Chairman of the union Odisitse Mafoko said he was not at liberty to speak to the media.
However Jayson Chakalisa the former chairman of the union says he was aware of the situation at the union. “We hope that those elected will take the Union to higher levels from where we have left it. But once the committee has factions that will eventfully lead to a disaster which nobody wants.”
Chakalisa believes that differences among committee members can be easily resolved as the union has structures that are capable of resolving such issues.
He stated that it would not be an ideal thing to dissolve the elected committee as it is too early to take a route.
