BONELA denies reports of looming collapse

KEOBONYE MAJATSIE
Correspondent | Thursday August 9, 2012 00:00

Recent media reports have indicated that the organisation's efficacy and advocacy roles were waning. However, in an interview yesterday, the organisation's Project Coordinator (Human Rights Monitoring and Awareness Raising) Felistus Motimedi, said they were shocked to learn that the organisation they are so passionate about and working for was 'staggering towards commotion', and that there was 'staff unrest'.

Motimedi said such reports sought to tarnish BONELA's good image and instil a sense of insecurity and doubt about the future of the organisation among staff members and the public.

'We take this opportunity to reiterate that BONELA, in its entirety, remains firm and committed to creating a conducive and just legal environment for all inhabitants of Botswana and facilitate access and uptake of health services without fear of stigma,' she said.

According to Motimedi, BONELA's revised strategy necessitated a decision by management to downsize its staff compliment, principally because most of the work that the organisation does will be delivered through its network members.

She explained that the decision was also influenced by the current funding environment, to ensure BONELA's sustainability. 'We would like to further assure the public that we remain committed to working with our stakeholders in creating a just and conducive legal environment for all of us to enjoy the rights inherent in us to improve the quality of lives of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS,' she said.

In a related matter, BONELA said in a press statement that it has made strides, advocating for an inclusive legal environment in the national HIV response. The press release states that BONELA has reviewed its strategy that has resulted in it operating as a true network, adding that although registered as a network since 2002, it has operated as an organisation that does activism by itself. It further stated that the reviewed strategy emphasise the need to work with other like-minded players, and capacitate them to advocate for themselves.

BONLEA executive director Uyapo Ndadi said they were strengthening organisations and some individuals to be active and resilient foot soldiers. Ndadi said at present, they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 20 organisations, adding that to clearly demonstrate seriousness in shaping BONELA to work with other partners, they changed the constitution to allow representation of target groups on the board.

The press release also explains that the strategy would also enable them to continue conducting advocacy at a higher level with policy makers like Members of Parliament. It also notes that due in part, to the change in strategy, BONELA had embarked on a retrenchment exercise because most of the work would be done externally.