BOMU and Rakhudu too close for comfort!

Mmegi Editor | Wednesday February 26, 2014 15:05

We do not have a problem with unions dabbling in politics but the resolution taken by the BOMU leadership is nothing but dubious. If this is a stand adopted during their Annual General Meeting (AGM) the resolution should be binding but in this case it is not clear. The Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) also took a similar position during its inaugural congress to support the like-minded politicians.  So the issue here is not so much about the principle of unionism and politics. In BOMU’s case there is a serious conflict of interest.

It is not  clear if these actions amount to a trade of sorts; ‘scratch my back, I will scratch yours’ at a personal level. The closeness of the BOMU leadership and the particular minister is a cause for concern. The BOMU president Bafana ‘Phempherethe’ Pheto of Lekunutu le Morena fame is a resident of Gaborone North constituency, same area as Minister Rakhudu. 

Another top BOMU official Seabelo Modibe urged musicians and their friends to register for elections with a Gaborone North residential address in the ongoing supplementary registration. In the same story, Rakhudu disclosed that he individually helped Modibe to get sponsorship from the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture for the annual Booster Bash last year.  Rakhudu is disclosing that he used his influence as the assistant minister to help the music promoter, at a personal level.

Pheto is also abusing his position as the president of the union and a prominent Gaborone North resident to influence his subordinates to vote for Rakhudu. Only one person can be a patron for an organisation and this cannot be used as the basis for support.  We do not undermine the contribution of Rakhudu to the music industry but there are many artists who are vying for political offices around the country who are members of BOMU.

Why didn’t the union support the candidacy of Shima Monageng in Molepolole South where he lost the parliamentary battle against the veteran Daniel Kwelagobe? Why is BOMU not supporting another veteran artist and producer Sidney ‘DJ Sid’ Baitsile who is standing in Gaborone Central as an independent candidate? What about Gomolemo Motswaledi’s contribution to the music industry? He is also vying for political office in Gaborone Central.

Mokgweetsi Masisi is also a known theatre practitioner. The list is endless. In the story Modibe is encouraging voter trafficking because he wants to see his benefactor again in Parliament. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) should call Modibe to order for encouraging voter trafficking. We hope the members of BOMU will ignore his call and vote at their principal addresses.

Batswana should not be that cheap. People are not voted into influential positions for personal gain. Pheto’s led committee must concentrate on developing and promoting artists.