GABORONE – A storm is brewing at the Botswana Sectors of Educators Union (BOSETU), with disgruntled employees accusing the organization’s leadership of corruption, bullying, and sexual harassment.
The staff claims were made in a letter sent to the union’s National Executive Committee (NEC). The three-page document, which was leaked to The Voice newspaper, alleges mismanagement, financial improprieties, and blatant favoritism during a recent restructuring exercise.
Employees say the restructuring was secretly orchestrated to push certain staff members out while creating positions for individuals with personal ties to those in authority. They cite multiple examples of how some workers were allegedly coerced into accepting early exit packages. Others, such as cleaners and security guards, lost their jobs altogether with no clear justification under the new structure.
The letter also claims that BOSETU now spends over P5 million more on salaries due to the influx of external hires in managerial and executive roles. Insiders add that the new hires received salaries significantly higher than those who had spent years serving the union.
Bullying and harassment are also cited as serious concerns. Some employees accuse senior managers of suspending or firing colleagues over minor disagreements. Others have allegedly taken legal action against the union in response. Meanwhile, sexual harassment complaints have reportedly been covered up, with victims discouraged from pursuing justice or even threatened with dismissal.
In addition to workplace grievances, the letter calls for a full-scale investigation into BOSETU’s finances. Employees allege corruption in property acquisitions, bribe-taking, and questionable transactions involving large sums of money. They also claim that falsified financial reports were presented at annual general meetings and congresses to conceal these irregularities.
One contentious point involves the payment of vehicle allowances to executives who allegedly use union-owned cars. The letter further reveals that in September, the Secretary General and the Treasurer received a gratuity of P1.9 million, which employees believe they were not entitled to because they serve as seconded officials rather than full-time staff.
Contacted for comment, BOSETU Vice President Charles Tsiane confirmed that the NEC received an eight-page letter from employees detailing these complaints. According to Tsiane, the union is taking the matter seriously, and two staff members implicated in the alleged wrongdoing have been suspended. Both individuals have taken the matter to court, limiting what Tsiane is able to discuss publicly.
He also disclosed that BOSETU is in the process of appointing an independent investigator to look into the allegations. Tsiane stressed the importance of transparency and fairness, saying, “As a union that advocates for the welfare and fair treatment of its members, we cannot allow our own employees to be abused at work. We agreed that we cannot investigate ourselves, so an outside investigator will be brought in to ensure impartiality. While I can’t give a specific timeframe, we hope to conclude the investigation as soon as possible.”
As tension mounts within the organization, observers note that the outcome of the independent probe could have far-reaching implications for both the union’s leadership and its membership at large.
