Former BNYC execs square up against Khama, Olopeng

Pic Kabo Mpaetona
Pic Kabo Mpaetona

Seven former members of the dissolved Botswana National Youth Council’s (BNYC) executive committee yesterday squared up against representatives of President Ian Khama and minister Thapelo Olopeng, as the former youth body fights for resurrection. Olopeng, the minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, dissolved the troubled BNYC and its national executive committee in July, as part of a restructuring under which its mandate will continue as an organ within the ministry.

Olopeng was acting in line with a presidential directive issued by Khama on the BNYC’s restructuring.

Yesterday in Lobatse, lawyers representing the former NEC members said Olopeng and Khama had no legal right to dissolve the BNYC and its NEC. The former members want the High Court to issue an interdict freezing Olopeng and Khama’s decisions, pending a more substantive suit.

Editor's Comment
Public servants deserve better than union infighting

‘The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds’.- Abraham LincolnUntil then, the Council’s operations remain suspended, delaying critical decisions affecting thousands of public sector employees.The current standoff is between the Manual Workers Union on one side and the Six Cooperating Trade Unions, namely BONU, BOPEU, BTU, BDU, BOSETU and...

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