04 Nov 2019

Some tour guides have hailed the formation of Botswana Safari Guides Union (BOSAGU), saying it would aid in addressing issues surrounding the tourism industry.

Tour guides expressed their views after a meeting held in Maun on November 3.

The meeting was organised by the BOSAGU executive committee to sell the union’s mandate and encourage tour guides to join.

BOSAGU aims to represent their interests in labour issues, general welfare and trade disputes.

They said the union came at the right time as their profession was marred with challenges and assured the executive committee their support towards the growth of the union.

They complained that their profession was not taken seriously even though they continued to contribute meaningfully to the growth and success of the safari companies and the tourism industry.

They said Botswana was a shining star as far as tourism was concerned because of their services. They said they were key players of most businesses in the industry as they took tourists to desired destination and appreciated the beauty of the land.

Tour guides complained about exploitation in the industry despite their efforts.

They said they were faced with many challenges such as low salaries, long working hours without overtime pay and surcharges.

The formation of the union, they said, was a welcome development as it would tackle challenges they had been facing and promised their commitment and support towards joining hands with the executive committee to push the union’s mandate.

Earlier on, the vice chairperson of the union, Mr Goitsemang Kennetseng explained that they found it fit to form the union because they realised that the tour guide profession was faced with challenges.

Initially, he said they started as Botswana Professional Guides Association till last year when they officially registered as a union and changed the name to BOSAGU because there was no entity representing their members in labour issues.

Mr Keenetseng differentiated the union from Botswana Guides Association (BOGA), stating that the union would be focusing on labour issues, members’ welfare and trade dispute, bargaining powers and maintenance of agreements while BOGA was an association spearheading citizen empowerment into the tourism industry.

The association, he said, was more into business and dealt with mobile operators hence less representation for tour guides.

BOGA promotes the development of locally based tour and safari industry, and it tries to increase employment opportunities for local people.

He urged union members to intensify recruitment so that many tour guides could join the movement and speak with one voice.

The union’s vice chairperson said the union would continue educating their members about the union mandate, noting that they had observed that there was a lot that their members were failing to achieve.

He said it was open to professional guides and freelancers across the country, adding that currently they had less than 100 members in their data base.

Mr Keenetseng also stated that members were not restricted from joining other associations which could represent their interests. Members were urged to familiarise themselves with the union constitution.

The union secretary general, Mr Tuelo Bapedi appealed to tour guides to join the union in large numbers, noting that the union was driven by membership.

To be recognised by companies, they should at least have 1/3 of membership in a certain company to represent their members.

In addition, he said members should have signed contracts for the union to be recognised by companies.

He informed the gathering that they should appreciate that government was viewing tourism sector as priority towards economic diversification hence the need to be prepared to play their role effectively.

The union’s spokesperson, Mr Phetogo Malatsi said the union was still new and most tour guides did not know about it despite efforts to call meetings and share information through their website and other social media platforms.

He informed the gathering that there was a lot that the union could offer to its members going forward citing benefits such as free training, funeral cover and small loans and venturing into income generating projects among others.

Mr Malatsi said they were also planning to establish branches to expand the visibility of the union. ENDS