BOPEU wants Kgosi, Kaboeamodimo investigated

GREG KELEBONYE
Staff Writer | Friday November 26, 2010 00:00

 

Now the Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) wants the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) to investigate Broadcasting Services director Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo and a junior officer at Btv, Gloria Kgosi.

The aggrieved staff members and others who were until recently working for the station are said to be ready to give evidence against the duo.

'We ...are in possession of a copy of a letter from our members. The letter in essence raises serious issues, which require immediate attention, namely issues of nepotism, corruption, malpractice, abuse of authority, criminality etc. alleged to be rampant at the Btv News and Current Affairs section,' says BOPEU president Andrew Motsamai in a letter to the DCEC director.

The letter has also been copied to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration under whose ambit government media falls. Motsamai says in the letter that BOPEU had failed to get audience with the director of Broadcasting. Btv together with Radio Botswana's two stations RB1 and RB 2 form the department of Broadcasting Services.

'We took the initiative to seek audience with the Director of Broadcasting Services with regard to complaints raised in the letter, ...unfortunately the director failed to show up.'

Motsamai says that BOPEU believes that the allegations by Btv staff members warrant an investigation.

'We are of the view that if indeed what our members complain of is true, then the allegations made against the Director and one of his subordinates Gloria Kgosi warrant an urgent investigation,' he says in the letter.

Motsamai quotes Section Seven of the Public Service Act No 30 of 2008 as criminalising any act of nepotism, which is implied in the letter by Btv staffers.

'Our staffers have indicated that they will be ready to provide any assistance required to substantiate these concerns. Some of the seven former employees who left the section recently have also shown interest in attesting to the maladministration at Btv,' he says.

In the letter Motsamai urges the DCEC director to note that some of the evidence could be tampered with.

'We strongly advise that the director be aware of the potential contamination of evidence currently under the custodian of the Director of Broadcasting Services and to act accordingly.

For some time now Btv has been plagued by staff discontent and allegations of maladministration, especially over the last three years. The staff has on a number of occasions complained to the station overseers first at the then Ministry of Communications Science and Technology and then the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration when Broadcasting Services transferred to the ministry. However government had appeared to be reluctant or too slow to act on the staff complaints.

Already the station has lost ace producers, news and programme anchors. Among them are Christopher Nyanga, Oesi Thothe, Doreen Moapare, Masego Mosate, Montlenyane Baitse, Keneilwe Segopolo, Kitso Mosiiemang, Buyani Zongwani and Lentswe Chibane. The officers have been redeployed to other departments to work either as administrators or public relations officers. Most of the officers are said to have had differences with Kgosi.

Kgosi however maintains that those complaining are only jealous of her professional progression.  Broadcasting boss Kaboeamodimo could not be reached for comment as he was said to be in Zambia. BOPEU president Motsamai was also said to be out of the country. However, in a letter dated November 9, 2010, the DCEC acknowledges receipt of the letter from the BOPEU.

'In the interest of natural justice, I hereby request that we await the return of the substantive director Mr Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo who is currently out of the country on official business.'