Please help me

Kabelo Dipholo
DEMANDING HIS MONEY: Loeto

Former Veterinary employee demands over P300 000 in unpaid allowances

For 36 years Mothobi Loeto was a loyal employee of Veterinary Services. For a man who has never been to school as he narrated to The Voice, the job was much better than working in the South African mines.

“I joined the department of Agriculture in 1979 after returning from the mines in South Africa. My main duty was to build kraals wherever my superiors sent me,” he said.

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“I was just happy to be employed and for more than three decades I was focused on delivering any assignment I was given,” he said

The Monarch location resident tells The Voice that it only dawned on him after his retirement in 2015 that some of his bosses took advantage of his illiteracy to deny him what was rightfully his.

His says his troubles began on October, 22nd, 1991 when he was transferred from the Francistown post to KN34 post in Nata.

“While stationed there, I went on a trip to another post in Nata LMU and later sent on a trip to Francistown until I retired,” claims Loeto.

He tells The Voice that during his stay in KN34 and LMU outside Nata he worked odd hours, but had little complaints as he knew there was overtime and out of town allowances.

“I didn’t fuss much about it because I was told I could claim at anytime. I had no reason to doubt my superiors, and I generally believed they were acting in good faith,” he said.

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Loeto said he later realised that something was amiss when he attempted to claim his outstanding overtime and subsistence allowances, and he was sent from pillar to post.

For over 10 years, Loeto has been fighting with the well resourced department demanding what he believes is rightfully his.

While he believes he was on a trip to Francistown from his post at KN34, the Department insists he was in fact transferred back to the second capital.

“There was never talk of transfer. I went on a trip on 19th October 1995 until I retired. The transfer letter to my shock was produced this year,” he said.

“Once again I realised when it was too late that actually I was paid transfer allowance on 12th December 2017. My transfer allowance which is at the centre of this matter was paid almost three years after my retirement. The Veterinary Services is determined to use my illiteracy against me. Please I need someone to help me get to the bottom of this,” he said.

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“One day I’ll drop dead because of this matter,” added Loeto.

The Voice sent a questionnaire to the head office in Gaborone, who had not responded at the time of going for print.

However in one of their responses to Loeto’s queries dated 11 October 2017 the department had stated that the forms Loeto submitted for the allowances were signed as proof of authorisation.

“It is not known who assigned you the duties. You’ve not given any reason why the overtime was not submitted for payment upon return from trip,” reads part of the response.

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