Africa-Press – Botswana. A case in which the National Amalgamated Local & Central Government Parastatal Workers Union is being sued by its former employees is expected to commence before the Industrial Court in Francistown on 30 August.
The former employees which have made a number of claims against their employer accuse the union of unlawful retrenchment. The applicants are all former employees of the union and each is claiming 12 months compensation for the allegedly unlawful retrenchment from the employ of Manual Workers Union.
The applicants (former employees) are Karabo Matale, James Dagmore, Keatlaretse Tshenyego, Tshepiso Mpofu, Serwalo Tirelo, Kefilwe Banda and Kelebogile Kgathego.
Papers before the Court show that the 4th to 7th Applicant’s claim accrued leave in various amounts allegedly not paid and 1st to 3rd applicant’s claim the balance of their unexpired contracts.
According to the union’s Chief Executive Officer Elsinah Botsalano, “Claim A in respect of unlawful retrenchment enjoys minimal prospects of success on account of the that the applicants were not at all retrenched.”
She said: “They each applied to be voluntary separated from the Respondent and their applicants for voluntary separation were approved. The law as it pertains to fair/lawful retrenchment is inapplicable in the circumstances.”
Botsalano said Claim B which pertains to unpaid which pertains to unpaid leave similarly enjoys minimal prospects of success because the 4th to 7th Applicants who were not employed as managerial employees and were therefore entitled to only 20 annual leave days have not advanced any cogent reasons for why they assert were entitled to 25 annual leave days like their counterparts (1st to 3rd applicants) who were employed as managerial employees.
The Manual Workers Union CEO argued that the union, therefore, had paid concerned former employees in question their dues in respect of accrued leave.
“Claim c which concerns the 1st to the 3rd applicants and alleged non-payment for the unexpired period of their contracts is also unlikely to succeed because the said applicants applied for voluntary separation in accordance with an internal memo,” said Botsalano. The said memo dated 4th October 2021 set out the terms of separation and did not include any payment for the unexpired portion of the contract.
Botsalano said; “Having applied for voluntary separation on specific terms which application was approved, thTONOTA: Plans are underway for Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) to supply recycled water for human consumption as one of its drought preparedness and long-term projects.
This was revealed by corporation’s Coordinator, Public Relations and Events Management, Lorato Phuthe, addressing a consultative forum at Tonota College of Education (TCE) auditorium last week.
“Wastewater recycling infrastructure will be developed in areas such Palapye, Serowe, Ghanzi and Gaborone. The Lobatse Master Plan has started. Masama well field is complete with Masama-Mmamashia 100km pipeline also commissioned to bring 64 million litres of water per day closing a deficit of 49 million per Litres in the greater Gaborone,” said Phuthe.
The Tonota Legislator, Pono Moatlhodi who was in attendance commented that the corporation should ensure that the society’s mindset-that waste water is waste and cannot be recycled should first be changed. He had himself seen how it was processed and had seen it purified at the last stage, but when asked to taste the purified water, he refused on the ground that he still recalled how it was in the first stage of processing. But since water is recycled in Namibia, Moatlhodi reasoned, Batswana should be motivated to follow suit, given the scarcity of water in the country; especially during droughts.
The WUC Francistown office General Manager, Modisaotsile Keetile promised to educate and motivate Batswana. He said they are discussing with the ministry of agriculture to start recycling projects with them so that gradually Batswana can adopt the system.
Phuthe said the March 2021 rainy season had significant impact in most dams but strategic dams like Gaborone and Molatedi dams had less impounding.
“All dams: Letsibogo, Shashe, Dikgatlhong, Ntimbale, Lotsane, Thune, Nywane and Bokaa, reached a full capacity except Gaborone Dam hence improved water storage. Currently all dams collectively will take a year, without inflow at current usage consumption rates,” she said.
She said by August 15 2022, the Dikgatlhong dam was 81.2 percent full, and with that amount it could supply water to greater Gaborone, Mahalapye and Serowe for 24 months without inflow. The Letsibogo, which supplies Greater Gaborone, Mahalapye, Palapye, Serowe, BCL mine, Selibe Phikwe at 86 percent would take 21 months without inflow.
The Molatedi and Gaborone dams both supplying greater Gaborone were at 43.6 and 49.4 percent respectively mid-August and will supply water for 48 and 19 months respectively without inflow.
“The Thune dam, supplying ten Bobirwa villages is at 70.1 percent and is to supply for 39 months without inflow. Shashe dam, at 78.9 percent will be able to supply the greater Francistown area for 20 months without inflow. The Ntimbale dam at 87.8 percent will supply the 52 villages in the North East region for 15 months without inflow. The Lotsane dam, at 64.8 percent, will supply its 22 villages in Northern Tswapong and irrigation fields for 22 months without inflow. Bokaa dam will supply greater Gaborone for 12 months without inflow. The Nnwyane dam’s 93.9 percent will let it supply Lobatse town for 13 months without inflow,” she said.e applicants as I have been advised have no legal claim for anything falling outside the terms of the voluntary separation.”
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