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Life has taken a painful turn for familiar faces once seen on national television and voices that filled the airwaves, after a wave of contract terminations at Botswana Television (BTV) left many freelancers without income or direction.For years, these individuals carried programmes, informed the public, and entertained the nation under freelance arrangements.Now, many face an uncertain future after being told their contracts had ended shortly after sitting for a multiple-choice assessment tied to a recent recruitment process.Sources allege that long-serving contributors, including Benson Phuthego, Reginald Richardson and One Rabantheng, withdrew from the process, citing a lack of faith in what they believed was a flawed system.The trio, like many others, had become household names through years of dedication, despite operating under insecure freelance contracts.Last week, dozens of freelancers — some with over a decade of service — received letters informing them that their contracts would not be renewed.For many, the letters meant not only the loss of employment but the collapse of livelihoods built over years of commitment.A glimmer of hope has emerged, with reports that Rabantheng, Phuthego and others have since been called back. However, many remain in limbo, struggling to maintain lifestyles they can no longer afford, including rented homes now at risk.The emotional toll has been severe. One freelancer said the loss goes beyond income, stripping away dignity and stability: “I don’t know how I am going to look my children in the eyes. I have nothing left to give them.”The timing — coinciding with Good Friday — has deepened the distress, as workers confront eviction threats, unpaid bills and empty homes.Many had hoped for change under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government, expecting recognition and improved terms after years of perseverance.That hope has been dashed.Minister of State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa, recently told Parliament that the government was working on a new framework for freelancers, including reviewing pay rates and introducing structured contracts.He dismissed claims of dismissals, saying temporary workers would be absorbed. But developments on the ground appear to contradict those assurances.Affected workers accuse the minister of misleading the nation, arguing that the terminations directly conflict with his statements.They have further expressed anger at what they see as a gap between official communication and reality.The restructuring has sparked scrutiny of the recruitment process, with insiders claiming the multiple-choice assessment was used to sideline experienced professionals.The fallout has spread across departments, leaving uncertainty among media workers and raising questions about the human cost of the decisions taken.

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