Workers accuse boss of insulting President Khama
Pini Bothoko | Monday July 14, 2014 16:47
The employees stormed The Monitor office on Thursday to complain about their technical manager, Mark Green who they accused of racially abusing them and other Batswana. They alleged that Green was in the habit of sabotaging them so as make them lose their jobs and create vacancies for foreigners. The dejected employees disclosed that they feel something had to be done so that the nation knows how they are being treated.
“Recently he had an altercation with an employee and when he insulted the employee and he (the employee) told him that what he was saying was against Botswana’s laws, Green allegedly told her that she was stupid and an idiot like the person who signed that law - your President. We did not like that at all.
We respect Ian Khama as our President and the Bangwato paramount chief and we were angered by the fact he was being insulted and demeaned by a foreigner whom we welcomed to stay and work in our country.
We do not insult their president and we demand that he respect our president too,” said one of the employees who came to The Monitor’s offices and requested anonymity for fear of reprisals.
It is said one of the victims of the insults from Green went to report the matter to Central Police Station. The boss was summoned by the police who detained him for some time.
However, the acting station commander, Edward Leposo has said he is not aware of the case. “I do not know about the case. Maybe it was reported in my absence. I will check and come back to you,” he told The Monitor.
Green was the personification of politeness when The Monitor first reached him by phone. But when the allegations against him were mentioned, he suddenly changed tact and said: “No comment for you madam, sorry,” before hastily hanging up.
Employees said it has been two weeks since the matter was reported to the police and nothing has happened. They said they were worried that someone can be reported for insulting the President and after arrest he would be released without much ado.
“How do they (police) think we should cope working under the supervision of someone who insults our President? We are very concerned. Action should be taken so that people, especially foreigners, should respect our leaders,” one of employees said.
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