BNYC suspends chairperson

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday April 14, 2015 15:27

The Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) has suspended its executive chairperson, Benedice Louis Sibanda, on charges of maladministration.

The suspension, effective April 10, was communicated in a letter written by Executive Committee secretary general, Lydia Manthe.

It states that Sibanda is suspended to “…allow the on-going internal investigations relating to maladministration concerning the office of the Executive Committee Chairperson to take course without prejudice on him or the office.”

Manthe said the decision to suspend Sibanda was taken as part of internal investigations into the numerous allegations of maladministration within the council’s operations.

“These investigations are to ensure the Council remains committed to its values. Boniface Disho is the acting chairperson of the Executive Committee as per the statutes of the BNYC,” reads the letter in part.

Sibanda’s suspension comes amid a parliamentary probe into allegations of corruption and maladministration within the 41-year-old state-funded organisation. In their recently ended session, parliamentarians adopted a motion calling for a probe into the Council.

Sibanda’s is the latest in historical turmoil at the youth organisation, which has in the past resulted in the mass dismissal of top officials following allegations of corruption and maladministration.

Executive director, Benjamin Raletsatsi was once suspended and charged with making unilateral decisions that had allegedly thrown the BNYC into financial dire straits. He was also accused of improper tendering and restructuring of the organisation. Raletsatsi was subsequently cleared of the charges and resumed his duties in April 2013.  Another former director, Pauline Jonas was once suspended after staff accused her of maladministration, corruption, victimisation and intimidation.