BOPEU non-endorsement forced Motsamai withdrawal :: Mmegi Online

The president for Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) Andrew Motsamai was forced to turn down proposal from Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) because his union would not back him.

Motsamai had been short-listed to replace the late Gomolemo Motswana in the Gaborone central parliamentary contest. The slot has since been filled with the executive director of Cape Town-based Freedom of Expression Institute, Phenyo Butale.

It is understood that last week Tuesday UDC leadership endorsed Motsamai following much cajoling by Johnson Motshwarakgole. Motshwarakgole is the secretary for labour at the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Union (BOFEPUSU). It is alleged Motshwarakgole promised to pump close to a million into Motsamai’s campaign, something that the veteran Motshwarakgole disputed. Motshwarakgole said he has not made any promise to anyone.

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