22 Feb 2021

The relationship between Botswana Teachers Union Member Funeral Fund (BOTUFF) and Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) stems from the trade unions ideology that seeks to transfer wealth and take control of the means of production.

Speaking during BOTUFF special general meeting, BTU regional organiser for Francistown, Mr Nthobi King, said that was the reason why consultation and inclusiveness should be taken serious.

He said for a long time, BOTUFF members had advanced the need for the organisation to review policies for extended family and despite this extraordinary uncertainty, they continued pursuing all that defined the existence of BOTUFF.

“I continue to believe that addressing the concerns and constantly romancing the membership trust remains the most viable path forward and it is in relation to all our dealing and relationships as BOTUFF family,” Mr King said.

He said the relationship of BOTUFF and BTU was inherent, further advising that there was no BOTUFF without BTU.

BTU needed BOTUFF for purposes of availing a dignified send off for the dearly departed comrades, he added.

Mr King urged members to bridge the gap between them and the society as well as protect integrity of the union and its subsidiaries.

BTU chairperson, Ms Tshepo More, said the union heeded the laws of the country by broadcasting the meeting virtually across its nine centres and on digital media.

She said things were not the way they used to be as on January 7 this year, they received a correspondence from the Registrar of the High Court to terminate BOTUFF since they did not meet the requirement, adding that this was a follow-up to their correspondence to dissolve the trust.

Ms More said they wanted to dissolve BOTUFF and register it as a burial society as per recommendations of the Maun general meeting.

BTU president, Mr Gotlamang Oitsile, said the trust had more than 17 000 members and that elders found it fit to associate with the organ, adding that the scheme had a diverse membership of lecturers, teachers, retired people and others. He urged everybody in leadership to do what was right and not to destroy the funeral scheme. ENDS