A few weeks ago I received a letter from BEC inviting me for a 2008 BGCSE Examination Training in Gaborone. The most insulting thing about this invitation are the conditions prescribed by BEC. These conditions are as follows; participants are expected to:
1. Use public transport to travel to Gaborone for the workshop and to their duty stations. Those who intend to use a train are advised to use the economy class.
2. Find their own accommodation in the following areas: Gaborone, Tlokweng, Mogoditshane, Sebele, Gabane, Kgale, Mmopane and Metsimotlhabe only. Participants will not be reimbursed for staying in Hotels or Lodges and for commuting from places as Mochudi, Lobatse, Molepolole, Kanye, and Ramotswa.
3. Use mini-buses to travel between the place of accommodation and the training venue.
4. Take all the meals provided by BEC, i.e. Morning tea, Lunch and afternoon tea.
I want you ladies and gentlemen of this democratic country to be the jury and let me fight for justice of these poor teachers who are being abused by BEC and many others like them. BEC says that teachers can only find accommodation in the above mentioned place; this is silly because what if one does not know anyone in those places? Where are they going to sleep? Is BEC going to accommodate them in those places? How can BEC be sure that they will be able to find accommodation? Why does BEC want teachers to be hassling for accommodation from other people? Why do they want them to be other people's burdens? Why is BEC acting like they are doing teachers a favour by inviting them to attend this workshop? You see, Mr. Editor I'm fuming with anger as I'm writing this letter no matter how hard I try to remain calm. This is the most unreasonable thing that someone can be asked to do. Zimbabweans will agree with me that only one man can ask you to do something like this, and that is Robert Mugabe. But I'm a man who possesses an unclouded sobriety, as such I refuse to be a door mat, hence I'm not attending this funny workshop. I fear no man but God. If what BEC is asking some of us to do is such a noble thing they should consider accommodating some of us. By designating areas from which accommodation can be sought, BEC is acting like they own houses in these different places. If this is the case then BEC should come out clearly and tell us that we have free accommodation. You see, this sad situation could have been avoided by just housing teachers in education centres nearest to Gaborone and have them commute from there for the whole duration of the workshop. To tell us that we should go around and ask for accommodation from people is a very big insult to some of us. I hope that next time BEC arranges something, they will think first. I rest my case.
