Sources close to the developments claim that the dominant faction, led by the union’s vice president Charles Tsiane, has during the last weekend suspended the Executive Director, General Manager and the Human Resource Manager of the union. Whilst BOSETU spokesperson, Oreeditse Nyatso, declined to comment on the issue, stating that the matter is internal, it is alleged that the trio is seen as sympathetic to the other faction of the National Executive Committee led by president, Winston Radikolo.
It is said that the union’s NEC met on Wednesday to discuss terms of reference of an inquiry regarding an anonymous letter alleged to have been written by some employees of the union. According to the source, the letter was raising a number of allegations such as mishandling of the restructuring process that was done in 2022. “When the terms of reference had been discussed and agreed upon, members of the NEC who belong to the Tsiane lobby moved that the trio be suspended whilst investigations are being carried out. The members of the other lobby didn't support procedural irregularities as the suspension of the trio can only be done with the recommendation of the secretary-general,” said the source. It is alleged that when the suspension issue was discussed, members of the Radikolo-led lobby recused themselves from the meeting whilst the other faction remained and took a decision to suspend the three executives. “Their letters were signed by the VP Tsiane and delivered to them on Sunday 9th February.
The president was not present at the meeting as he was on another union assignment. The meeting was being chaired by VP Tsiane,” the source added. The Monitor source said the move is bound to completely paralyse the union operations as they would be unable to act on administrative functions that include amongst others signing some paper trails to authorise for payment of service providers. "This is worsened by the fact that the political officers being the president, secretary-general and treasurer who have been seconded to the office are no longer seconded because of the same lobby fights," the source further stated. These fights come after an elective congress of the union which was held in August last year in Palapye whereat there was a fierce battle of the two lobby lists, led by Tsiane and president Radikolo.
The Tsiane-led lobby identified as Restoration was able to scoop 11 positions out of 16, whilst the Radikolo-led lobby scooped only five positions, being the most powerful positions of president secretary-general, vice secretary-general, national treasurer, and secretary for research and training. Since its coming into office, the NEC never worked together owing to the power struggles. Over the past two months, the union leadership has washed its dirty linen at the courts of law. First it was the union’s vice president taking the president to court over the appointment of the NEC to the boards of BOSETU entities and external boards, while the Tsiane-led lobby members of the NEC deposed confirmatory affidavits against the union secretary-general, Tobokani Rari.
