14 Aug 2017

The secretary general of Botswana Teachers Union (BTU), Mr Agang Gabana says pensioners are important in the political and social growth of the union as they have years of experience to share with the current leadership of the union.

Speaking at BTU’s retired members’ symposium in Francistown recently, Mr Gabana said because of the foundation that pensioners had laid in the union; it had become a progressive organisation that was committed to all its members; working and retired.

The managing director of More Power Investments (MPI) Mr Solomon Roger also commended  the union for hosting the symposium with pensioners so as to facilitate an interactive process that would bring forth ideas and modalities that would promote and improve the lives of members.

Mr Roger mentioned that associate members of the union were equally important to the organisation, adding that it was their responsibility as MPI under BTU to give its members a dignified post career life.

He further added that it was important that pensioners provided wisdom and shared leadership skills as well as unsolicited guidance for the growth of the union.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the regional organising officer Mr Phillip Mokgosi said it was necessary to meet with pensioners on a regular basis to show respect and appreciation to former leaders as well as to interact with them to find out how they were doing post career.

“We need retirees that were union leaders to give us recommendations on how they kept the union afloat. We meet challenges that cannot be resolved through the labour office but through social dialogue. We have invited you here to come and tap on those suggestions as well as to foster good relations and good rapport. ” he added.

For his part, a pensioner Mr Enoch Malanga commended BTU for having invited retired members to share their experience and ideas while recommending that the symposium should an annual event.  ENDS