A rift over transfers of youth council members has erupted between the Botswana National Youth Council and Management led by outgoing Director, Falcon Sedimo.
Others object, citing short notice, while others demand transfer allowances.
Three weeks ago, the Botswana National Youth Council secretariat issued transfer notices to some members of the BNYC. Information reaching the Sunday Standard reveals that many of those members listed for transfer took the matter up with the board and appealed against management’s plans to transfer them away from Gaborone to district youth councils and other regional places around the country.
Among them are Kagiso Ntime and Chomi Letlole, who are believed to be close to the board and accused of running the show alone in the operations of the youth council.
In an interview with Sunday Standard, BNYC secretary general Chomi Letlole said that there was no conflict between the Board and the secretariat and the transfers had not caused any rift. However, he said he was utterly concerned about the transfers, adding that the issue needed to be dealt with carefully, especially since they were made on short notice.
“We don’t have any problems with the transfers as long as there is money to cater for transfer allowances and transport,” he said. “We don’t want any arrangement that is going to backfire on us.”
Letlole also lamented that he was concerned that the transfers were coming at a time when the director was still serving notice, questioning the motive for all this and saying they could live everything in disarray.
When contacted for comment regarding the transfers, Sedimo said that he could not be drawn into discussing the issue with the media as, to him, it is a purely operational matter.
“I find myself constrained because its an operational matter which I can not discuss with the media, unless you are willing to share with me your sources,” he said before quickly hanging up.
Although the board ruled in favor of those to be transferred, it is understood that management had vowed to go ahead with the transfers despite the ruling.
