Retrenchments looming at BDP

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday March 31, 2015 18:00

 

The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has warned its employees of an impending restructuring exercise that it blames on operational challenges. A letter to the employees dated March 15 from the party secretary general, Mpho Balopi, says the exercise may result in retrenchment.

The latest developments come as the party posted a P21.8 million loss in the 2014 financial year, owing largely to the high costs of the general elections last October, which it won with a reduced majority.

The BDP has 47 employees - 35 at its Tsholetsa House headquarters and 12 in Francistown, Maun and Kang. It is understood that close to 20 employees are likely to lose their jobs by the end of the restructuring exercise.

In his letter, Balopi informed the employees that the restructuring exercise is due to organisational challenges and is meant to revamp the party in order to make it competitive.

“Note that execution of the restructuring exercise will result in having (sic) some other positions made redundant resulting in reducing the size of the workforce, hence the need to inform those who are likely indirectly and or directly going to be affected,” Balopi wrote.

The secretary general exhorts workers to keep “this matter confidential”.

“You will be accordingly informed of the dates of consultative meetings as soon as possible.” Yesterday, Balopi confirmed that the BDP is restructuring and this does not necessarily mean people are going to lose jobs. “Our party is trying to be responsive to the demands of the environment. We also cannot state how long it will take since we are still consulting with all the affected people,” he explained.