11 Nov 2024

Poor governance in the cooperative sector has been identified as an obstacle that hinders their success and operational capacity.

Participants stated during a cooperatives retreat in Maun recently that some cooperatives were dominated by board members who did not have the right skills.

Further, they said some cooperatives collapsed  because of poor culture that did not encourage active participation.

They however, commended Botswana Cooperative Association (BOCA) for organising a retreat that sought to empower them on ethical governance and operation excellence.

The retreat was held under the theme: Enabling Cooperative Culture for Ethical Governance and Operation Excellence.

As such, members underscored the need to have polices and interventions in place that could hold boards and managers accountable to prevent maladministration.

A participant, Mr Thapedi Montlane of Mochudi Cooperative said there was no how boards could run  successful  cooperatives if they did not attract skilled personnel who could drive cooperatives into profitbale businesses.

He said audits were a serious challenge including proper structures that could direct cooperatives as a viable investment venture.

“I joined Mochudi Multi- Cooperative in 1969 which was more into agriculture, with a joining fee of P10. We have not benefited due to lack of market,” he added.

He thanked BOCA for inviting some experts to the retreat, to drill them on principles of good governance and other topics that could grow the cooperatives.

Another participant, Mr Smarts Shabane from Francistown Multi-Cooperative said good governance was key in any organisation saying the system called for accountability, transparency, responsiveness, effectiveness and efficiency among others.

Board members, he said, were duty bound to account to members and be committed to deliver and engage members. He said some cooperatives collapsed because their boards disregarded such. He stressed the importance of having skilled people at helm of cooperatives.

Mr Petrus Nyatsang of Gweta Cooperative said he was elected to serve in the board in 2013 but decried that they were failing  to meet the expectations.

He said some cooperatives benefitted the board more than they did members and the latter was losing hope.

“Our members are disgruntled because it is only the board that is running all the affairs of the cooperative and that can breed chances of maladministration. I believe we should have policies and procedures that can help to operate and protect our cooperatives,” he added.

Mr Nyatsang underscored the need to engage people with the right qualifications and skills to grow the cooperatives.

Earlier, BOCA treasurer, Mr Thapelo Obateng stated that some boards failed because poor governance and misaligned incentives. ENDS