Andrew Motsamai�s role at BOPEU
Correspondent | Friday March 11, 2016 13:15
And please pardon the length. I have edited it for length numerously, yet ended with so much to say. I am hopeful that in my response to Comrade Patle who is my leader, I will not come across as a self-appointed spokesperson of Botswana Employee Public Union (BOPEU) or its president Comrade Andrew Motsamai.
But I am compelled and I have been trying overtime to restrain myself, not so sure if it will be the right thing to enter into a public discourse with Comrade Patle on this matter of paramount importance. I am afraid that what inspires this rejoinder is that Comrade has since the beginning of his dire quest to lead BOPEU developed myopia of exuberating painful and non- reversible tyranny onto himself. This is not intended to be a personal attack on the person of Comrade Patle, but rather a discourse to possibly bring to light the truths and deep truths about these matters.
Before going far, let me remind the reader that towards the BOPEU elective congress held in December 2015, Comrade Patle appealed to BOFEPUSU, through this very newspaper to de-campaign Comrade Motsamai so as to ensure that he does not win the presidency of BOPEU. It becomes rather difficult, when regard is made to the presentation that was made by comrade Justin Hunyepa, who is a former BOFEPUSU authority and a current UDC officer - at the BOPEU congress to assume that BOFEPUSU did not take heed of Comrade Patle’s advice. Patle’s words were; ‘BOFEPUSU should assist in toppling BOPEU president’. This statement remains pregnant with his intentions, possibly as an individual, or possibly operating in cohort with BOFEPUSU and also possibly, both.
Despite the vile spitting, BOPEU delegates who congressed in Palapye voted Motsamai and his entire team in large and convincing numbers. Despite the views expressed by Comrade Patle and possibly being views of BOPEFUSU. Though almost impossible, like many BOPEU members, I want to convince myself that the views presented by Comrade Patle are not that of BOFEPUSU, but this is proving impossible. History is informing my position and I shall below present. But then again, if this is the case I will advise that BOFEPUSU must just give up the battle and concentrate in building their tent. BOPEU has surely moved forward in continuing to build their mansion. It is visible.
The robust solidarity and cohesion that characterised the BOPEU 2015 elective congress and the defeat of Patle’s agenda, with BOPEU subsequently electing their leader as Comrade Motsamai was in essence a protest against BOFEPUSU as well as views expressed by comrades such as Oaitse Patle. Contrary to popular belief, Motsamai did not pull out BOPEU out of BOFEPUSU. Congress delegates debated and voted against the continuation of BOPEU affiliation to BOFEPUSU. First it was on the notion of BOFEPUSU’s apparent failure to audit its books. Secondly on the notion of failure by BOFEPUSU to manage UNIGEM where BOPEU had invested heavily, the untenable situation which impacted negatively on BOPEU’s book of accounts. Evidently, delegates were worried that BOPEU was not benefitting from the investment due to the concentration of BOFEPUSU on partisan politics instead of managing its assets and taking care of the workers interests.
Third it was because of the hostility displayed by BOFEPUSU and its leadership which was prevalent at the last BOFEPUSU elective congress. Comrade Patle was to later remark himself through yet another submission in this newspaper on the 27th February 2015 that: “My humble request to the working class (union members) is that they can only find a new sense of belonging and home in BOPEU and in BFTU, the latter being the sole national federation in the country. Comrades, tshabelang kwano; where you will find respect, peace of mind and have a say in the decision- making process, including elections, without fear or favour.”
This was after the BOFEPUSU elective congress where BOPEU was snubbed and denied participation. Botswana Teachers’ Union has explained this last matter in detail and I will not dwell on it. I am content that Comrade Oaitse Tlale knows these matters more than lots of comrade and only deliberately omits such in his submissions for purposes of attempting to create animosity towards BOPEU.
The gist of the matter at the moment is inevitably the ongoing Public Service Bargaining Council legal scrutiny before the president of the Industrial Court. Sadly, Comrade Patle insinuates that BOPEU did not know that the court application was also barring in essence BOPEU from the PSBC yet he also says at the same time that it was the original plan to get rid of the PSBC altogether. It becomes difficult to follow Comrade Patle’s line of argument without concluding that his intention is not to advise or be in solidarity and that his intentions is merely to spit vile that he has always directed against Comrade Motsamai and that he is simply using this case as an opportune moment.
Last week my leader being Comrade Oaitse submitted once more through this newspaper that it was Comrade Motsamai and not BOPEU who appealed to the industrial court to nullify BOFEPUSU’s membership from PSBC. He writes that “BOPEU president Motsamai’s unilateral decision to sue to disqualify BOFEPUSU from the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC)” Comrade Patle must without hesitation show cause why he believes that it was Comrade Motsamai and not BOPEU which went to court to protect members of BOPEU. Who does not know that BOFEPUSU had prior to this case issued points of authority to PSBC to not discuss any matter relating to BOPEU? And hence in the process not allowing BOPEU to take part at PSBC platform and hence by so doing denying BOPEU to represent its members? It is interesting to note the whole point which began this whole rat race was begun by BOFEPUSU and charlatans like Comrade Patle possibly operating from given instructions; only God knows by who, are deliberately ignoring such when attempting to tarnish and paint BOPEU in bad light. Let me also revisit what Comrade Patle has said in one of his writings in the Mmegi newspaper towards the December 2015 BOPEU elective congress that “I am convinced that, comrade City Seitiso and Masego Mogwera as well as their team who will be taking over from the current president in office, will not surround themselves with Yes Boss Guys and as such; will ensure that, acts of Malpractices, Sexual Exploitation, Abuse of Office and Misappropriation of the union’s resources such as vehicles and finances as alleged, will be things of the past in 2016 and beyond.” My problem with this kind of thinking is that it has been expressed in various organisations against various people including political parties, general elections, clubs and societies, expressed by those who lack any meaningful thing to say about those they do not support.
In most cases, those who go for this line of questioning have been defeated through the ballot at one point by those they are spitting bile at. In this instance, I recall that at the regional level Comrade Patle was defeated not once, but numerously by his colleagues who doubted his capabilities even to lead at that lower level in the union structures. I am also reminded that before his decade long suspension from BCSA the then BOPEU, his greatest misdemeanour was his divisive appetite and quest to undermine authority. He went on to form the defunct BOPAMOA an Association of Government administrators hence his unfounded allegations and bitterness do not come as a surprise to some of us.
Comrade Patle unfortunately does not in many instances come across as speaking for anyone but rather himself unless the new dimension where he sounds like talking from a given instruction. On the 2nd of May 2013 he was quoted by Mmegi Newspaper saying that “there is need for the State to ensure that labour rights are enshrined in the Constitution of Botswana, which in its current form does not explicitly address workers. This call for the review of the constitution, should not be misconstrued as politically motivated, but should rather be placed within the context of “globalisation and the importance of International Labour Laws.” One would assume that in the realisation that the PSBC was not properly constituted, and its application to the industrial court for remedy, charlatans such as Comrade Oaitse Patle will be impressed. But fast forward to 2016, Comrade Patle is a turncoat to benefit from the moment to simply spit vile unnecessarily.
I am not that sure about the noise surrounding opposition politics and trade unionism in Botswana; except that in my encounters with comrades both from BOPEU, BFTU, and BOFEPUSU I have come across a people mixed in their sympathy with differing political parties from the ruling party, UDC, BCP and nonaligned political forces. I am also certain that the decision of BOPEU which was by way of a resolution was not taken under the tenure of Comrade Motsamai but was rather made during the Botswana Civil Service Association (the now BOPEU) congress held in 1998 at Mater Spei College in Francistown. Comrade Patle himself indeed narrated in one of his Mmegi submissions in 2015 that “the firm decision was taken following the former president of Botswana Civil Service Association, Oganne Maroba’s well-thought of speech. In his 10-page speech, Maroba stated that as a matter of principle civil servants should continue to refrain from participation in politics because they are expected to serve the public impartially without political influence”.
It is important to narrate all these so that Comrade Patle could possibly come out of the cocoon to realise that one shall never be able to maintain and sustain a position when they are operating under instructions. One can only sustain and maintain a position when they are indeed a ‘true evolutionary unionist’ as my leader Comrade Oaitse seeks to be known.
Through this submission I seek to urge Comrade Patle to show cause why he should not be taken not to be shouting merely to spit vile at those who have denied him, through the vote to lead BOPEU. Comrade Patle should show cause why he should not be treated as a bitter leader who has not managed in his quest to make the defunct BOPAMOA an Association of Government administrators, a force to reckon with.
In giving such assurances, Comrade should also show cause why he should not be viewed to be operating from a given instruction. Comrade should also show cause why his voice should be taken to be genuine when used against BOPEU yet it was only when BOPEU began to show dissatisfaction with BOFEPUSU that he went against BOPEU. The reader will recall that Comrade Patle had his vile spitted at BOFEPUSU and it was only until recently that his vile is directed at BOPEU. I am hopeful that my conclusion that if Comrade Motsamai was to join any other union, Comrade Patle’s bile splitting will focus on that union. Having been one of those who had thought Comrade Patle could be counted amongst those who understand trade unionism, it has become impossible to take him seriously.
*Leader Thabo Keaipha