Media & Allied Workers Union reviews constitution

Botswana Media and Allied Workers Union (BOMAU) is embarking on Constitutional review exercise, its President Phillemon Mmeso has said.

The union was officially launched by Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi early this month. Mmeso told a media briefing in Gaborone that a resolution was taken by the Annual General Meeting to review the constitution. The AGM also confirmed the interim executive committee as the substantive leadership of the union until the congress.

“What we are basically looking at is to try and align the constitution with the current events we experience in our country,” Mmeso said, adding that they have not yet compiled provisions that they want amended but intend to look at the document holistically. The union leader reiterated the need for media workers to join the union. He revealed that currently the union is constrained to assist about three media workers from two media houses who are at loggerheads with the employer.

Mmeso said the affected employees have not yet joined the union. He said two of the employees at a local radio station have been suspended for doing their job while another employee of a local newspaper was dismissed after she questioned her demotion when she returned from maternity leave. “We are not in a state to assist our colleagues because we cannot use resources of our members to assist those who are not members. What we are currently doing is trying to have a gentlemen’s agreement for the employers to reconsider the decisions they have taken,” stated Mmeso.