- Banc ABC, Stanbic, Stanchart ordered to ditch Mogwera
- DPSM instructed to recall Mogwera
- Mogwera ousted at Babereki
- Isolated Mogwera fights for survival against a united NEC
TEFO PHEAGE
In its ongoing attempt to oust its President Masego Mogwera, Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) National Executive Committee has instructed local banks affiliated to itself to stop any dealings with Mogwera.
The Botswana Gazette learns that Banc ABC, Stanbic Bank Botswana and Standard Chartered Bank Botswana have been instructed by the ‘union of choice’ to stop dealing with the union’s suspended president Mogwera.
In their letters dated 29th April to the Managing directors of Standard Chartered, Banc ABC, and Stanbic Bank, the union says “in its sitting of the 27th April 2019, the National Executive Committee of BOPEU resolved to suspend Masego Mogwera as the president and Topias Marenga as the General Secretary from the union pending investigations.”
The letters further instruct that, “as a result of the foregoing, we request that they should not be allowed to carry out any transactions and must be barred from authorizing in any of the accounts we have with your institution until a final decision by the NEC is made.” The letters are signed by the Olefile Monakwe the acting BOPEU president and Panana Dipatane, the Treasurer General.
In another letter delivered to the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM), the Union calls for the recall of their leader from BOPEU, “in its sitting of the 27th April 2019, the National Executive Committee of BOPEU resolved to suspend Masego Mogwera as the president and Topias Marenga as the GS from the union pending investigations. As a result of the foregoing, the union recalls with immediate effect Masego Mogwera who is on secondment at the union to her government employ.”
In another letter leaked to this publication, the union instructed its commercial unit, Babereki Investments Secretary that some company directors have been removed from their directorships.
“Notice is being given to yourselves as company Secretary of Babereki investments that a decision has been taken by the shareholders that Masego Mogwera, Martin Gabobake, Tlhabologo Galekhutle and Otto Itumeleng’s terms of office have expired while the first three are also facing disciplinary action. Please facilitate their removal from the registrar.”
The letter further says the new directors are Olefile Monakwe, Panana Dipatane, Mosalagae Tlhako, Modise Ramaretlwa and Lesego Nchunga.
The fallout follows Mogwera’s loss at the recent union elections where her team lost to a rival faction leaving her as the only winner. The winning team is now asserting their power and has taken over the union.
Mogwera is not giving up and has vowed to fight to the bitter end. She ascribes the war to the findings of a forensic audit which she says implicates her opponents who are now fighting tooth and nail to oust her to protect themselves. The opponents however argue that she is the only one who has the report and does not want to share it with anybody including the Non Banking Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA).