24 Nov 2020

The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has strongly refuted insinuations that its leadership is insensitive and not open to engagements.

A press release from the Botswana Defence Force states that such insinuations appeared in the Weekend Post, dated 21-27 November 2020 authored by Mr Ketumile Ramatiti titled SHUT UP! Soldiers told.

The release states that BDF was concerned by the inflammatory malicious intent of the article, which clearly intended to portray the BDF leadership in bad light by averring that, BDF promotions: soldiers warned, told to shut-up, Army Generals tell inquisitive juniors to shut up about promotions and that some junior officers already given verbal warnings while some received letters inviting them for disciplinary hearings amongst others.

It further states that BDF would like to strongly refute what is purported by the article in the newspaper, as there is no Army General who has told inquisitive juniors to shut up about promotions.

It further says, for the record, if members of the BDF think they have been wronged, it is within their rights to seek redress for any complaints and individual grievances including promotions as provided for in the BDF Act, 2018 under section 241.

The section reads, ‘If a person subject to this act thinks himself or herself aggrieved in any matter relating to his or her service may make a complaint about the matter under this section’.

The statement says the insinuations by the newspaper that BDF leadership is being insensitive by ‘charging soldiers’ for putting formal complaints on promotions is false and misleading.

It is worth noting that there is no soldier who has been given verbal warnings or received any letter inviting him/her to a disciplinary hearing as suggested by the article, says the release.

The communication also indicates that despite the Commander BDF being the appointing authority for the ranks of Lance Corporal to Major, the Commander has found it prudent to appoint a promotions board.

“This is meant to precisely ensure that promotions are based on merit through critically assessing the recommended list as per the established promotion criteria which include, availability of vacancies, physical proficiency tests, individual appraisals, amongst other qualitative and quantitative requirements,” states the release.

The BDF, says the release would like to state that contrary to the negative picture painted by the author, it has confidence in its established statutory complaints procedure for officers and soldiers pertaining to all matters including promotions, appointments, postings, releases and discharges.

It also takes issues of personnel welfare seriously and as such it has long put in place clear structures and laid down complaint procedures for officers and soldiers to follow when they feel aggrieved.

The release concludes by stating that the BDF wishes to assure the public that it remains professional and ethical in its administrative matters, urging the public to treat contentions of administrative unfairness by the newspaper as baseless and malicious with ulterior motives by the author and his unsubstantiated sources to bring the good name of the defence force into disrepute. ENDS