Monakwe's faction fails on Marenga interdiction

Topias Marenga PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Topias Marenga PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

A dramatic fallout with new attorneys, Bogopa Manewe Tobedza and Company, saw a last ditch effort by Monakwe faction of Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) to stop Topias Marenga from discharging his duties as general secretary, collapse on its face Tuesday afternoon before Justice Ranier Busang, Lobatse High Court. 

Marenga had approached the Court with an urgent application after learning that the rival faction had last week, unbeknown to him, got an interdict against him, barring him from discharging his duties as BOPEU general secretary.

 Marenga had been issuing notice to a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for last week Saturday (Dec 19), when an interdict against that action was effected. However Marenga only learnt after the fact, having not been served prior to defend his actions. Subsequently, he filed an urgent complaint with the same judge which was scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, arguing that the other faction had sought the interdict behind his back, and that the interdict was fraudulent since another Court had already ruled on exactly similar matter and favoured Marenga. He was referring to a judgement of November 27, 2020 in which three judges panel, had among others decided on the interdict by Olefile Fast Monakwe to halt Marenga and Masego Mogwera from holding themselves as general secretary and president of BOPEU, and return two vehicles in their possessions. The panel had ruled in favor of Mogwera and Marenga in that case, and said they could continue using the two vehicles in their powers, since the April 27, 2019 meeting was found to have been invalid and all its resolutions.

Editor's Comment
Dear gov't, doctors: Ntwakgolo ke ya molomo

With both sides entrenched in legal battles and public spats, the risk to public health, trust in institutions, and the welfare of doctors grows by the day. It's time for cooler heads to prevail. The government and BDU must return to the negotiating table, not with threats, but with a shared commitment to resolve this crisis fairly and urgently.At the heart of this dispute lies a simple truth: doctors aren't just employees but guardians...

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