BOPEU announces death of founding member

Staff Writer | Tuesday April 26, 2016 15:44

 

A statement issued early today states that “It is with great sorrow that Botswana Public Sector Employees Union (BOPEU) announced the death of their founding father, Gofitile Aron Tsiripe Gare. He passed on, on April 24, 2016 at Bokamoso Private Hospital where he was hospitalized.

He will be remembered for his great stewardship at the formative stage of the Botswana Civil Servants Association (‘BCSA”) the precursor of BOPEU.

The statement further says that Gare (GAT as he was affectionately called) “remains in our hearts as one of the greatest icons ever to lead our organization. He was a member of original committee of five (5) comprising the likes of comrades Gobe Matenge, Bahiti H. Temane, Ntsimelele D. Magang, Richard Makhwade and McDonald Seema, who transformed the then Bechuanaland Protectorate Civil Service Association into the Botswana Civil Service Association,”

BOPEU president Andrew Motsamai said these great iconic fathers and other stalwarts of the movement structured the union’s ideology, and left a legacy that has shaped BOPEU’s existence to date. “We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere heartfelt condolences to the Gare Family and friends during this difficult time. We will communicate the funeral arrangements as soon as the family concludes them. May his soul rest in peace.”