Bamalete Lutheran in crisis as P16m goes missing

Bamalete Lutheren Hospital PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Bamalete Lutheren Hospital PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Workers are going unpaid, patients are being fed substandard food and medicines are running short at Bamalete Lutheran Hospital where a recent audit could find no trace of P16 million which disappeared from the hands of management.

Government gives the hospital a grant of more than P14 million every year. This week, Mmegi learnt that once the pride of Balete and a magnet for patients from all over Greater Gaborone, Bamalete Lutheran Hospital (BLH) is a shadow of its former self.

Highly-placed sources said in the midst of the administrative and financial crisis, eight doctors threw in the towel last year, as well as a radiologist. Workers claim they are owed up to P3 million in cumulative unpaid salaries, with some of these amounts going back to 2010. One employee, according to authoritative sources, is owed P202,000 in salary arrears. Mmegi is informed that after years of late payments and salary arrears, disgruntled employees have since written to the Office of the President and the board pleading for intervention.  A Deloitte audit handed to the board last October, paints a picture of gross maladministration at the hospital. At least P16 million covering 120 transactions could not be accounted for.  “The board had wanted the audit report to be shared with the workers, but management refused,” an insider told Mmegi on condition of anonymity. The troubles have also rocked the upper echelons at the hospital, with two members of management still on suspension. BLH CEO, Moagi Mmitsi and School of Nursing principal Martha Mothibe were suspended last year

Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

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