BOPEU non-endorsement forced Motsamai withdrawal
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday August 22, 2014 12:07
Motsamai had been short-listed to replace the late Gomolemo Motswana in the Gaborone central parliamentary contest. The slot has since been filled with the executive director of Cape Town-based Freedom of Expression Institute, Phenyo Butale.
It is understood that last week Tuesday UDC leadership endorsed Motsamai following much cajoling by Johnson Motshwarakgole. Motshwarakgole is the secretary for labour at the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Union (BOFEPUSU). It is alleged Motshwarakgole promised to pump close to a million into Motsamai’s campaign, something that the veteran Motshwarakgole disputed. Motshwarakgole said he has not made any promise to anyone.
According to a source in the leadership of BOPEU, a meeting was held last Friday evening at a local hotel, where Motsamai is said to have informed his committee that he would like to stand as UDC candidate. He also requested certain things from the committee.
“Because he would have to resign from the union’s presidency he wanted BOPEU to hire him as chief executive of Babereki Investment’s Insurance Broker. He wanted to enjoy the perks that he has been enjoying whilst BOPEU president. He wanted support from the union,” the source said.
A source said union leadership told him that he would not receive their backing. The leadership therefore refused to accede to his demands.
The source said the union’s reason was that Motsamai is the chairperson of Babereki Investment and cannot appoint himself CEO and again this was not in line with the principles of governance. “The leadership felt that Motsamai is a nurse and does not have management skills to run a financial company,” said an insider.
It is also alleged earlier this year BOPEU dismissed Botswana Congress Party parliamentary candidate for Gantsi South Brains Kwadipane from work as their regional manager in Maun after his decision to stand for elections. The BOPEU leadership is of the view that Motsamai is now doing the same thing that he fired Kwadipane for. While confirming they had a meeting with Motsamai where he informed the leadership of his UDC intentions, the BOPEU deputy president Masego Mogwera, however, disputed that he put conditions forward.
Mogwera said the BOPEU had taken a resolution at their congress that they will not fund or support any political party.
“Our unions have members from different political parties therefore we cannot be found funding other political party candidates. Motsamai told us when he was approached by UDC,” Mogwera said. Motsamai could not be reached for comment.