Monakwe's Road To The Top :: Mmegi Online

Olefile Fast Monakwe’s two and a half years at the helm of the Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU), one of the largest trade unions in Botswana with 35,000 members, is the stuff of legends.

In August 2018, four months towards the BOPEU elective congress, Monakwe was nowhere near the seat of power. Masego Mogwera was the president, Martin Gabobake, the first deputy president and Ogaufi Tilly Masame the second deputy president, with Thabologo Galekhutle being the treasurer, and Topias Marenga and Kethapeleng Karabo as secretary-general and deputy secretary-general respectively.

When the first rebellion was staged in August 2018, marking the beginning of a protracted tussle for power, the antagonists who battled against Mogwera in the courts were NEC members, Masame, Motswaledi Monaiwa and Philemon Zibani, who led a number of the court cases. They were the de facto leaders of the faction.

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