BOCCIM retains CEO against recommendation

Boitshepo Majube | Wednesday February 12, 2014 16:35

 

The team had recommended an amicable separation but the chairperson has since released a statement confirming the council's final decision.

In a notice last week, BOCCIM said its Council had considered 'a business case' and resolved to retain Machailo-Ellis, citing 'confidence in her capabilities and that some of the criticism levelled against her were circumstantial.'

A special committee set up by members last year had advised the Council to engage with Machailo-Ellis to reach 'an amicable separation' following a highly publicised leadership spat with then president, Alex Monchusi.

Yesterday, Mmegi Business learnt that in retaining Machailo-Ellis, the Council's 'business case' also considered the separation package it would have to pay the CEO.

BOCCIM president, Lekwalo Mosienyane said lack of funds to pay off the CEO was among factors that led to the organisation retaining Machailo-Ellis.

Without giving a specific amount that would have to be paid to Machailo-Ellis had they decided to part ways, Mosienyane stated that the figure was 'certainly not less than a million Pula.'

'BOOCIM does not have such funds as we speak,' he said. According to its financials for the year ended December 31, 2012, BOCCIM declared a comprehensive surplus of P74,639 following a loss of P159,013 the previous financial year.

The organisation's major income is from subscriptions, which amounted to P3.9 million in the year, ended December 2012, while its major expense is salaries that amounted to P3.8 million in the same year.

On the other factors considered by BOCCIM, Mosienyane said Machailo-Ellis has good organisational memory and it would have been difficult to lose a person of her calibre.

'It would have been a huge loss to lose Machailo-Ellis, considering all other factors,' he said, adding that BOCCIM is receiving accolades for the 'sterling job she is doing in the country and across the world from various committees she is serving in'.

Mosienyane was unable to confirm whether former president, Monchusi was present at the Council meeting that decided to retain Machailo-Ellis. He said Monchusi remained a Council member with full rights.

'I cannot verify whether he was there or not when the council made this resolution,' Mosienyane said.

'He however does receive BOCCIM minutes. I can confirm that the Council meeting in question did form a quorum.'

However, Monchusi yesterday told Mmegi Business that he knew nothing about the resolution to retain the CEO, as he had not been getting invitations to meetings.

Although last year's special committee's report slammed the BOCCIM Council as 'lacking collective responsibility,' Mosienyane said members had resolved to give the Council powers to decide Machailo-Ellis' fate.

'Apart from that BOCCIM now has a new council and a new mandate,' Mosienyane said, stressing that the special committee report focused on the old previous council and not its successor.

Mosienyane ousted a protesting Monchusi last year in elections held in Gaborone, garnering 185 votes to his predecessor's 69.

Ahead of the election, Monchusi's camp felt hard done by the special committee report which recommended that he should consider a voluntary exit if re-elected.

'There is no doubt in the minds of the committee that the incumbent has the qualification and drive of a business leader. However, there is a question around his leadership style and therefore his ability to take this organisation forward and restore the credibility expected by various stakeholders,' the report said to the annoyance of Monchusi's camp who felt that it endorsed his rival. Some members opposed calls for the AGM to go ahead with its business and consider the report at a later date. They questioned the credibility of the report and said some of the recommendations should be removed.