06 Aug 2013

The Botswana Secondary Teacher’s Union (BOSETU) president, Mr Shandukani Hlabano, says he will not contest his position in the union’s elective congress next year.

Addressing the union’s three-day congress in Francistown on Monday, Mr Hlabano said as a leader, one must know his mandate as well as his period of relevance in leadership. Mr Hlabano also emphasised that the union needed a leader who could keep it afloat and promised to support his successor to maintain stability in the union.

He called for approval of the new constitution, saying it would present BOSETU as a reformed union.  The congress, he said, came at the time when there was a lot of public interest in the labour movements, hence the need for the union to uphold good corporate governance.

Furthermore, he said, the union membership and the investment sector they ventured into in 2009 were growing. Members were advised not to seek benefits from their investment instantly as investment was for future benefits.

Mr Hlabano cautioned the union members against disclosing union matters through social media forums, but instead use appropriate channels. He thanked the union for the support and loyalty displayed during the struggle and challenges they faced.

For his part, the BOSETU Francistown regional chairman, Mr Winston Radikolo said the union was operating well in his region and noted that concerns on scarce skill allowance and over time claims are minimal.

Mr Radikolo raised a concern that they are experiencing delays in the payment of scarce skill allowance on the special education department, adding that school heads are also still reluctant to authorise overtime claim forms from teachers. ENDS