Rolong Land Board accused of maladministration
Rolong Land Board is alleged to be grappling with acts of maladministration under the watch of its Board and management.
Sources close to Botswana Guardian reveal that members of staff are deeply worried by the direction the Land Board is taking. Staff welfare is highly disregarded, decision making is not inclusive, the organisational culture is toxic and favouritism is rampant.
One of the employees who requested to be anonymous to avoid victimisation emphasised that the organisation is on autopilot as some senior officers hardly come to the office and no action is taken against them.
She emphasised that the Board secretary runs the organisation with an iron fist.
“It’s his way or the highway. We have people who are performing duties that are of high responsibility and are supposed to be paid acting allowance but the Board Secretary does not want to do what is right. He also does not respond to correspondences written to him to address the matter,” she said.
Another employee who also requested to be anonymous highlighted that the Board management seem to have a problem with paying employees’ overtime and claims.
“We have officers who are disgruntled because they were engaged and after performing duties assigned to them by the Board Secretary he refuses to pay them accordingly.
“Some have even decided to involve unions on the matter but he disregards the unions and claims to be busy. Some issues go back to as far as 2020 during the Covid-19 outbreak. He engaged them instead of appointing SHE officers but now is refusing to compensate them. This is pure exploitation”.
In a letter written to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs, the Land Board Secretary Mosegofatsi Bose stated that he has met with the unions on the issue of overtime and still maintains his position that he would not pay the overtime.
He explained that the affected officers wrote on the 24th October, 10th November and 17th November 2022 requesting to be paid overtime for the affected dates.
He explained in the letter that he responded to them through a letter dated 30th November 2022, at which “I did not accede to their request, citing my reasons thereof.
“I met with the unions on two occasions and I maintained my position contrary to the letter from BLLAHWU alleging that I agreed to pay the officers within seven days. This was to highlight to you my position regarding the matter, however, I will do as directed sir,” Bose said in a letter dated 18th September 2023.
This was after the Permanent Secretary in the ministry directed the Land Board secretary to pay the officers as they worked overtime during Covid-19. Bose was further ordered to provide proof of payment for the matter to be closed.
When contacted to establish if indeed Botswana Landboard, Local Authorities and Health Workers Union (BLLHAWU) has received complaints from Rolong Land Board, the Union President Thatayaone Kesebonye confirmed that they have received four complaints.
“It’s unfortunate because we have engaged him a couple of times and he seems to be uncooperative. In one of the complaints the Deputy Permanent Secretary instructed him to pay employees within seven days a month ago, but he failed to obey a lawful instruction. His attitude is appalling and we strongly believe serious action should be taken against him,” Kesebonye said.
Kesebonye said they are left with no choice but to petition the Land Board and or take legal action. Rolong Landboard Secretary Bose could not be reached for comment as he was said to be in a meeting.