Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has fired one of its executive managers, Zwilithini Witbooi, under mysterious circumstances.
The move has been hailed by the Botswana Power Corporation Workers Union (BPCWN).
Reports reaching this publication suggest that Witbooi, a South African national who is responsible for power generation, was ‘poached’ by BPC from the South African power utility Eskom about five years ago. Now he had been dismissed under mysterious circumstances.
It is not yet clear what might have triggered his sacking. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the former executive manager might have had a fallout with management over governance issues.
BPC chief executive officer (CEO), David Kgoboko confirmed to this publication that the corporation has parted ways with Witbooi.
Kgoboko said: “It is true that we have parted ways with Witbooi amicably.”
He said he was unable to explain the reasons why BPC decided to part ways with him.
“These are internal matters therefore I am unable to divulge what prompted the separation between BPC and the said employee”.
He revealed that his contract was expected to expire sometime in November, 2022. He strongly denied suggestions that the said executive manager was dismissed on allegations of corrupt practices.
Kgoboko said: “That is totally not true “.
He said since he being appointed early this year, he has already established a committee that reports to him on a weekly basis on corruption matters as a way of combating the cancerous disease.
He added that after six months the committee produces a comprehensive report on what it has discovered in the last six months.
“I am optimistic that the measures that BPC has put in place will indeed fight corruption and drastic action will be taken against those who will be involved in such ill acts,” he said.
Contacted for comment, general secretary of BPCWN Ganaone Marumoagae said the union welcomes BPC’s decision to sack the executive manager.
“At this juncture we do not know exactly what might have triggered his dismissal but we suspect that something wrong might have happened,” she said.
She added that, “As the union and the entire corporation, we rally behind the newly appointed CEO and the decisions that he will take which will restore the dignity of the corporation.
Meanwhile former German BPC CEO Dr. Stefan Schwarzfischer sacked about five executives a few months after his appointment.
