BAMB boardroom brawls cost CEO his job

The axing of Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board ( BAMB) chief executive officer ( CEO), Leonard Morakaladi under dubious circumstances, has been linked to a protracted boardroom brawl at the organisation. Morakaladi was shown the door last week. Sources close to BAMB boardroom say that clandestine meetings held at BAMB to undermine management progress, had a bearing on his sacking. Information gathered points to Ruth Mphathi, a board member at

BAMB for seven years, and now Acting Board Chairperson - as the suspected invisible hand behind the decision to fire Morakaladi. In a letter dated 24th February 2021, Mphathi warned Morakaladi that his contract is ending 28th February 2021 despite the contract being left with two ( 2) years. Last week Friday Mphathi wrote to staff notifying them that the CEO contract would be expiring on Sunday ( 28th February 2021) and his last day at work will be the 26th of February 2021. “This serves to inform you that your employment contract as approved by the Ministry of Agriculture is ending 28th February 2021. The Board acknowledges that in terms of the contract signed with yourself, the duration of the contract is from the 5th March 2018 to the 4th March 2021 and based on the aforementioned your last working day is the 26th February 2021,” reads part of the letter. A source close to BAMB Boardroom brawl revealed that the acting Board Chairperson has long hatched a plan to remove Morakaladi from office. The source revealed that Mphathi has been with the Board for over seven ( 7) years and during that period BAMB was making a loss, until Morakaladi took over and this created tension between the two.

“The current acting Board Chair has been with BAMB for a very long time and what angered her is Morakaladi’s leadership style. Mphathi was angered by Morakaladi’s introduction of surveillance cameras and other stringent measures that make it difficult for corruption across BAMB branches country wide,’’ said an insider with knowledge of internal operations at BAMB. The source further revealed that following Morakaladi’s business model BAMB recorded profits since all those closer/ or connected to Mphathi could no longer milk the organisation through winning transportation tenders. This publication is in possession of documents from BAMB Human Resources Committee recommending Morakaladi’s contract extension. In a letter dated 8th October 2019, ref 4.3 274 C 1( 26) to BAMB Board Chairperson, the letter from Ogone Madisa – Kgwarae recommended for the review of employment on fixed term contract for CEO on contract of employment from three ( 3) years to five ( 5) years. The then Board Chairperson Dr. Gloria Somolokae wrote a letter on the 19th November 2019, informing the current CEO that BAMB board of directors has extended his contract.

“This letter serves to inform you that BAMB Board of directors has amended your contract of employment from three years to five years contract as per Revised BAMB conditions of service clause 3.8.1’,’ Dr. Somolokae said. As a cleanup campaign which was part of the five- year strategy Morakaladi and his new management team installed surveillance cameras in all branches in an effort to curb sorghum theft and corruption countrywide. The fallout allegedly worsened when the BAMB Audit Committee, headed by Mphathi, instigated an investigation into alleged irregularities in the purchase of trucks that would be used to transport grain at the organisation. BAMB insiders believe that the investigation was fabricated, as Morakaladi held a firm view that BAMB should have its own trucks while leasing some of its operations to private operators. Because the organisation was broke, Morakaladi then approached truck dealers at Scania and Man ( Sefalana) to acquire trucks on installment. Mphathi’s Audit Committee initiated investigations, as they believed that Morakaladi had acted improperly. Mphathi was not available for comment as her phone rang unanswered. She also did not respond to the WhatsApp message sent to her.