Branches query leadership of BMWU

ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer | Thursday June 4, 2009 00:00

The burning issues range from misappropriation of the organisation's funds and failure to elect the union vice president.

Sources say after the death of former union president, Golekanye Mogende, branches were divided over who should replace him. 'There were fights for the former national treasurer, Lentsifetse Masilo, to take over but some branches refused on the grounds that he failed to account for a huge expenditure in the financial report at the last triennial congress. We finally settled for Rex Tambula,' reveals a source.

Sources say there were delays in voting for the vice president as well as in finishing the agenda of the general council but nothing happened until the branches enquired.

At some point, a normal general council was convened in which the election of the vice president was supposed to take place. Then a letter from Masilo's attorneys, protesting that he was the rightful candidate to have succeeded Mogende according to the union constitution, stalled the election.

Sources say that Masilo was rejected on the basis of section 10.4 of the union constitution that empowers the council to take any relevant decision that is in the best interest of the union.

A two people's task team was allegedly delegated to seek legal advice on the matter.

Sources further indicated that misappropriation of funds is rife within the union and this has concerned many branches. 'We had expected an audited financial report during the last council in Palapye but the auditor indicated that he was not furnished with sufficient information by the NEC to be able to audit the union's financial books,' according to the source.

Some branches indicated that at some point they petitioned the Registrar of Trade Unions but the petition was stopped after the NEC appealed to the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Peter Siele. Later the labour commissioner was delegated by the minister to hear the case between the branches and the administrating body. 'There has been no satisfactory outcome in that we received a letter from the Ministry of Labour indicating that trade unions have been granted powers of autonomy hence it should resolve its own issues'.

The source indicated that as branches they feel that for the situation to improve and be back to normal, the current NEC should be voted out and that they want all the union financial books to be thoroughly investigated so that the NEC can account for all the union funds.

'It is a concern that if we seek intervention from government we are referred back to the very NEC who seem not to want investigations to go on. The law has completely deserted us'.

They further claimed that the NEC is the one that pays and determines the staff salaries though that is supposed to be done by the council. On why they cannot face the NEC directly to voice their concerns they indicated that branches are scared to do that because they are always threatened with expulsion.

'Our general membership is mostly concerned about the union's financial reports. The recession has meant that a lot of union members have been retrenched but they go home without any compensation from the union yet they had remained loyal subscribers for the whole period they have been working. 'It is high time union does something instead of always saying there is no money.' Concerned branches even indicated that members have proposed a general meeting with both the branches and NEC.

BMWU general secretary, Jack Tlhagale, declined to comment on the issues and said there are structures within the union where the concerned branches should direct their case, not through the media.

'If there are any concerns then they should be passed through the general council and the NEC. Those concerns were raised during the general council and they have been answered as well as a way forward forged. Anybody who seems to be concerned should go to the relevant union structures,' Tlhagale directed.

Tlhagale said where the union stands today they have no case that should go to the media. 'It is our job to respect the union structures and the branches should respect those structures as well. It is a pity that there are some who purport to flout this,' said the union administrative officer.