BOPEU road shows target 30 000 membership
Boniface Keakabetse | Monday June 22, 2015 16:12
In an interview with The Monitor in Maun during a road show here on Saturday, BOPEU president Andrew Motsamai said that BOPEU currently has 28,000 members. He said they expect to hit the 30,000 mark in membership after the conclusion of the road shows. BOPEU resolved to undertake the road shows to touch base with its national membership, recruit new members and get feedback from the existing members.BOPEU has so far conducted this road shows in Tsabong, Gantsi, Selibe phikwe and Maun. According to Motsamai the BOPEU will next month (July) embark on the second phase of the roadshows to Ramotswa, Lobatse and Francistown.
Motsamai said: “As an organisation membership mobilisation is critical for us. We are also here to consult and get feedback on the services were are offering to our members.” Motsamai said big organisations such BOPEU have to come with innovative ways to best reach their membership adding that the Union has resolved to avail requisite facilities such as vehicles to its regional offices for them to effectively service members in remote areas.
For his part regional chairperson, Kenneth Matheakgomo explained that the Shangumve region starts from Gweta all the way to Gudigwa. Matheakgomo told Monitor in another side line interview that despite the fact that their region is vast and remote everyone is represented in the union regional structures. He explained that they registered 11 new members during the roadshow on Saturday.
Matheakgomo further explained that their membership comes from all government departments including all the parastatals where government has investments. “ we have and recruit members from Botswana Meat Commission, Water Utilities Corporation, Botswana Unified Revenue Services and all other parastatals.”
Earlier on when giving vote of thanks, BOPEU Secretary General, Topias Marenga explained that BOPEU is committed to better the lifestyles of its members. He said they have partnerships with Hollard for provision of insurance services, Bank ABC which provides loans and the Mobile services provider, Orange to their members. He said:”Besides representation in labour disputes for our members, we are also committed to better their social lives.”