The ruling has nullified Monakwe’s presidency- Mogwera
We are appealing judgement- BOPEU
Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) is appealing last Friday High Court order which declared that the April, 27, 2019 decision to expel Masego Mogwera as President of BOPEU pending disciplinary action, was unlawful and set it aside.
On the other hand Mogwera is threatening to sue the union president. Olefile Monakwe and his committee for contempt of court.
The former president and her expelled Secretary General, Topias Marenga went to the union office this Tuesday where she said they were denied access by the security guards.
“The ruling has nullified Monakwe’s presidency, which meant all Executive Committee Members must vacate the office. The judgment means I should be back to the office but when we got there we were met by bouncers who denied us access. We are left with no alternative but to go back to court to seek help,” said Mogwera.
However, Monakwe said Mogwera filed an application to set aside the termination of her membership to the union and it is still pending before High Court.
He said decision to expel Mogwera as a member during 2019 December Congress still stands until and unless it is set aside by a court of law.
“Marenga’s position as General Secretary of BOPEU was terminated. He has never challenged this termination in any court of law, and so it remains valid. Comrade Mogwera did not interpret the judgment well because it only says her suspension was unlawful. There is nowhere it says therefore she should be reinstated as the president of BOPEU.
It therefore follows that the NEC of BOPEU remains as is, because the judgment of the Honourable Court has no bearing on how it is currently constituted.
Our attorney is currently working on the appeal. I assure our members that everything is under control and we are doing all we can to recover from debts that were created by the previous leadership,” said Monakwe