RAIL RAGE

Botswana Railways (BR) employees have finally blown the lid off over what they describe as deepening corruption and mismanagement at the parastatal.This past Monday, the situation escalated when workers marched through Mahalapye to the District Commissioner’s office to deliver a petition originally intended for the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dithapelo Keorapetse.The union had hoped to submit the petition to Keorapetse last week Friday, but when that failed, they redirected it to the State President, Duma Gideon Boko. Led by the Botswana Transport and General Workers Union (BTGWU), the workers handed over the petition while holding placards emblazoned with the words, “Enough is enough, we are tired.”Their message was loud and clear: they are no longer willing to remain silent as the situation at BR deteriorates under the current executive leadership. The union’s petition is a damning indictment on the parastatal’s management and governance structures.It places the blame for BR’s current instability squarely on the suspension of General Manager Paul Masena, whom they say was removed from office following a forensic audit that implicated Board Chairperson and Acting General Manager Chelesile Malele in financial and governance irregularities during her time as acting CEO from January 2021 to December 2023.Malele had, when speaking to this publication in a previous interview, strongly denied that she was implicated in corruption or had misused company monies. The workers argue that Masena’s suspension is a strategic move to derail the ongoing forensic audit process and protect implicated executives. They believe that the audit, which President Boko ordered, is now being deliberately sabotaged.The petition claims that since Masena’s removal, BR has become a “free-for-all,” with no meaningful oversight or accountability. They further accuse the current leadership of misusing public funds by undertaking frequent and allegedly unjustified international trips, even amid the ongoing governance crisis. The petition warns that continued engagement with companies flagged in the forensic audit could expose Botswana to reputational harm and even sanctions from international entities.Another pressing concern raised is the parastatal’s failure to comply with a court order to update the BR Staff Pension Fund trust deed by July 2025. Workers say this is just one of many signs that BR is being run without regard for legal compliance. Many retirees have reportedly gone over a year without receiving their pension pay-outs, while current employees fear the same fate awaits them.There is growing suspicion that pension funds are being misused or diverted.The petition also highlights the alleged abuse of hiring practices, claiming that appointments are being made without proper procedures. This includes the hiring of a senior internal auditor and several other high-ranking officials, which the union believes further weakens internal oversight and accountability. The union also laments the breakdown of communication and internal grievance mechanisms.Since August 2024, the Union has made numerous attempts to engage the Ministry of Transport on these issues, including writing letters and requesting formal meetings, but to no avail. It says these efforts have been ignored, forcing it to take the matter directly to the Office of the President.In light of these concerns, the union is demanding the immediate reinstatement of Paul Masena; that spending powers of the current acting management be limited; that all senior appointments be suspended pending Board oversight; and that the newly-appointed BR Board be urgently sworn in to take control of the situation.Meanwhile, and still on Monday, BR management issued a memo to all staff through the Director of Corporate Services, Kgomotso Mahupela, alleging that employees’ signatures for the petition were collected under false pretences. Mahupela claims that employees were told the petition was about salaries and welfare, while in fact it addressed executive contracts and the forensic report. He said the petition therefore does not reflect the genuine views of many who signed it, and described the incident as a breach of trust and organisational values.Mahupela assured employees that the matter is being addressed through appropriate internal channels and reaffirmed the executive’s commitment to fair and respectful industrial relations. He encouraged staff to use internal communication platforms when aggrieved.The BTGWU however insists that it followed all proper channels before resorting to public action. In fact, they warned weeks back that workers were itching for action. It argues that management andgovernment inaction left it with no choice but to petition President Boko directly. The petition gives the President 14 days to respond, warning that further inaction will cause irreparable harm not only to employees and retirees, but also to Botswana’s image on the global stage.

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RAIL RAGE