My Leader, Stop The Mayhem, It Does Not Suit You! An Open Letter To Comrade Edward Tswaipe

Correspondent | Monday September 12, 2016 15:19

It is a difficult moment writing to you from the terrains of absolute confusion. Having sat in your class and enjoyed your teachings, which I must point out have enlightened me, grown me and produced the leader in me, I am utterly disappointed at the unfolding debacle between you and your employer.

The last time I had this kind of an encounter with a leader was with Comrade Oaitse Diane Patle, the then veteran trade unionist whose lack of tact and mischief has thrown all that he once stood for into the dustbins of history. I do not wish this for you my leader. I wish that you could remain the marvellous teacher that you have been to us all along.

I have tried to engage comrades on this matter for purposes of digesting and dissecting; to argue the merits from your corner. I have failed completely in this regard.  It is possible that my failure just like of those comrades whom I sat down with, whom would have loved to fight from your corner, have on many occasions been consumed in the marvellous teachings you have gracefully offered us. You have alerted us that in the discourse of differences with our employers, we must follow the law and guard procedure to the deep end. You have told us this is the strongest iron fist a worker always has against his employer. You have told us that failure to follow procedure is equal to irresponsibility as no matter how much you disagree with a procedure, as long as it remains in force and effect, it should be followed and adhered to. You have done the unthinkable, went against this very teaching. You can imagine the predicament I now find myself in.

Very little is trickling down as to what exactly led you into discussing confidential issues that came to you on account of you being a senior officer of the union. Now that I have been favoured with a copy of what has been discussed at Strategy Room (14 people), it would appear you went one step forward and five steps backwards.

 Rather a huge disappointment for us who have held you in such so high esteem. At this point I am completely at a loss. My preliminary assessment of the matter says that you are wrong and that you have been ill-advised. Sadly, I have also come to a conclusion that you have violated your own teaching to us.

Even though I am not part of the secret group “Strategy Room (14 people), which I am informed you are its administrator, I have had the pleasure to view such discussions from a comrade who is a member of the group. I was peeping after your matter came to light, to simply form an opinion. I must say I was blatantly disgusted. I am much better now but still disappointed that you of all the leaders, would stoop so low, to the  extent of letting “secret group excitement” makes you reveal that which has been entrusted to you for safe-keeping. I have no doubt that you breached the uberrimae fidei principle, that yours is purely a serious misconduct warranting summary dismissal. Whether that is done by Secretary General or National Executive Committee to me that seems to be inconsequential. Your teenage mentality behaviour must never be condoned.

I am also saddened that at a time that I was beginning to be happy, that the ruination that had befallen BOPEU after the Palapye Congress were over. You have opted to begin another relay. In my view, you should not have gone to the Industrial Court. You should have just gone ahead to listen to your employer, to get the facts straight and use the same platform to air your grievances. Disciplinary processes, as you have taught us, are also a platform ripe for reconciliation. You have said so yourself, that disciplinary processes form the core and foundation of establishments. In our discussion one comrade righty remarked that; ‘but BOPEU cannot be seen to be right only when Comrade Tswaipe wants it to be right and be wrong when he doesn’t want it to be’. This is one of the Comrades you have taught and who I hope still harbours respect for you. It becomes difficult to make choice when one is faced with this kind of situation.

I hope you will realise before it’s too late my leader that, firstly, you went and littered BOPEU confidential information and in the process falsely accused the BOPEU leadership for whatever was being said at your closed secret group. Secondly, on a simple point of procedure which you are much conversant with, you chose to raise with the Industrial Court a frivolous point you knew wouldn’t pass just to spite your employers. 

I am aware, as corridor talk is also rife, that in all this instances, you relied on the advice of your newly found friend; an illegally elected chairman of Gaborone Region 1. (This aspect of my concern would be revisited separately). My leader, now that the Industrial Court has made a ruling on your laughable excuse, I hope you will reflect and learn from this self-induced injury which you obviously tried to also transmit to the union and man up.  It is also my hope that you will desist from displaying yourself as a victim. Rather you must admit that you are the perpetrator. My leader, pick up the pieces of that which is left and move on. By so saying my leader, try to understand that I am not on your corner on this matter. I noticed that a great many of your former contemporaries are sympathising with you on your secret Facebook page that you also administer; including your timeline. Honestly I don’t.

I am disappointed, but I can only say; be well my leader.

 

Leader Thabo Keaipha BOPEU Member – Moshupa thabo_keaipha@yahoo.co.uk