Mokgware heads retired soldiers’ association
Botswana Defence Force Retired Members Association ( BDFRMA) is strategically positioning itself to maximise profits from its existing businesses as well as open new avenues.
The association recently conducted a virtual election which ushered in a new executive committee headed by former Commander of the Ground Forces, Major General Pius Mokgware.
Mokgware had contested for the chairmanship against Brigadier Thulagano Masisi. The latter and his team lost all the positions because members associated them with either the current leadership of President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi or the former Lieutenant General Ian Khama. Khama knew about the ex- soldiers struggle to claim millions of Pula of their pension money from the time when he was the BDF Commander and later President. Mokgware’s victory was also helped by the perceived lack of accountability when it comes to existing investments owned by BDFRMA, such as Sephonono restaurant in Maun. While this restaurant’s profits are reportedly impressive, some members of the old executive committee are accused of operating it like a family property.
The said officer( s) are accused of taking unilateral labour decisions, one of them being the summary dismissal of an employee who had been running the business and replacing him with one of their own. Furthermore, over P90, 000.00 of the business funds is said to have been transferred into the personal account of one officer, whose name is known to this publication. The said officer is said to be failing to explain how the money was transferred into his account. In an interview Mokgware confirmed that he together with his team were elected to lead BDFRMA, but clarified that this is not a political issue nor do they intend to use it to fight government. Instead, he said they will ensure that there is discipline of the highest order in their quest to get their pensions which were transferred to BPOPF against their will and contrary to the BDF Act. The changes happened in 2002 when all soldiers whose pensions were transferred to BPOPF and had joined before 2002 felt disadvantaged, since at that time soldiers retired at 45 years while civil service went up to 60 years old. Having exhausted all channels without success, the BDFRMA members opted to go the legal route. They formed an Ad- Hoc group in 2020 known as ARE ITSHEKENG composed of at least 80 percent of the members of the Association.
That Ad Hoc committee was chaired by former Member of Parliament for Gabane- Mmankgodi Maj- Gen Pius Mokgware. ARE ITSHEKENG argued that all efforts and countless stakeholders’ meetings to resolve the denominator used to calculate their pensions and get their millions back have dismally failed. While still serving the soldiers took their grievances with the respective
Commanders of the BDF who in turn engaged the services of Defence Council but to no avail.
The Ad- hoc committee composed of Mokgware, Brigadier Shadrack Moloi who is also the current chairman of the BDFRMA, Brigadier David Dikobe ( secretary general), Brigadier Kapeko ( Treasurer) and Captain Victor Baiketsi ( PRO).
Moloi resigned his position from the then executive due to irreconcilable differences among others, caused by the fact that BDFRMA felt that they are the ones to take the case, but the then NEC was not entertaining the idea except for Moloi. ARE ITSHEKENG argued that they are not enemies, and that this is a labour issue between the employer and employee. They then engaged the Monthe, Marumo Law Firm and asked each member of BDFRMA to contribute P1000.00 apiece towards legal fees. The exercise managed to easily raise over P500, 000.00. Now that he is substantive Chairman of the association, Mokgware said under his leadership, the BDFRMA will come up with innovative ways to generate funds.
They will also help government by creating jobs especially for most of the former soldiers that have no source of income. Mokgware said they will also resuscitate the Security Company, which had been registered but could not take off because of lack of proper coordination. “Our security company will be different as the ex- soldiers are already trained and instilling discipline in them will be the easiest task,” Mokgware said.