Bahiti Temane, champion of labour movement

Correspondent | Monday June 29, 2015 10:36

We woke up on Saturday mourning, precisely some of our members who worked with Rre Bahiti Temane as a co-workers, a dedicated BCSA (now BOPEU) leader, a committed member whose deeds later earned him a cabinet position during the Masire – Mogae regime. Yes indeed his death leaves an immense void. Again we are reminded by the famous Afro-American writer Maya Angelo, that “when great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, and sterile. We breathe, briefly. Our eyes briefly see with a hurtful clarity”.  We are all shaken by this sad news.

His departure on Friday 27th June 2015 comes within five  months after gracing a Union activity in his honour and that of several leaders; our forefathers who bequeathed us the modern BOPEU. Rre Temane was the Secretary General (SG) of BCSA at the formative stage of the Association.  As the Secretary General, he served with Rre GA.T Gare and Rre G. Matenge both of whom we are told stirred the organisation very well during their tenure. It would be sad not to recognise that the majority of organisational rights, some of which we enjoyed for close to 30 years, were negotiated by these leaders. Again, as the then SG, a special tribute to him would be quite fitting.

It is not always that easy to have an honest and true leader, who chooses to stay on course at all material times. Most of our shop-stewards hurriedly abandon the trade union course upon being elevated to positions of power.  Fortunately, that was not the case with my leader. He left us with remarkable contributions ever made by a sitting Minister of Labour. Those of us who admired him as a true Trade Unionist, would never forget that it was “BT” who in just one year, ratified at once twelve (12) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions including all the eight (8) Core Conventions.

To us the significance of ratifying these eight 8 Core ILO convention marked a landmark development in Botswana’s industrial relations. It is worth noting that, it was when “BT” was the Minister of Labour  that a good foundation of strong de-jure labour market regulation was laid.  It was not until 2004 that the work of domestication of these conventions started motivated by an ILO funded project, clearly the reluctance of Government to allow the new wind of change to bathe Botswana.

A raft of these ratified conventions have since been partially domesticated and they form part of our labour laws. The Trade Dispute Act (TDA) which regulates the manner and means of regulating relations between the Employers and Employees and resolving disputes between them. The Trade Union and Employers’ Organisation Act (TUEO) which regulates the registration and recognition of trade unions, were re-enacted in 2004 as part of the initial batch of these reforms. Again in 2008, the Public Service Act (PSA) was re-enacted to usher in this new labour relation in the Public Service. The PSA unified the public service under one piece of legislation, provided for the establishment of the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC), the recognition of public sector trade unions, and the manner and circumstances under which public service could go on strike. 

He loved his people and his country, and for that he qualifies to be honoured as a “true patriot”. Even after his retirement from active politics, he chose to remain loyal to the organisation he helped to establish. In the few occasions that I have had to converse with him, I am without doubt that comrade Bahiti Temane would not have liked to be associated with fame and pomposity. He leaves a void too big to be filled be it; family and with friends. And as Bruce Lee would have put it, “the key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering” and as for my dear leader Rraetsho Comrade Bahiti Temane, he lived a life worth celebrating.

Andrew Motsamai

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

*Andrew D’bois. Motsamai  is the President Botswana Public Employees Union.