Brawling For Student Office: New SRC Finally Inaugurated!
By admin | April 25, 2007
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By Lillian Tjezuva
The GS-26 cabinet finally was inaugurated on 19 April by the 2006-07 Student Representative Council after more than two weeks of political bickering over election results. Jonas Obonye and his MASS BNF colleagues handed office to the new SRC lead by President Mishingo Jeremiah.
The exchange of keys took place harmoniously at the Student Union Hall. It was graced by, among others, the outgoing cabinet, the new cabinet, Director of Student Welfare Kitso Sedisa, members of the University of Botswana Protection Services, and a crowd of UB students. When handing over office, Jonas said little else than, “Bagaetsho puso ke eo ….amen (…There is governance).”
For his part, the new SRC president expressed gratitude that the old SRC found fit to inaugurate him. He further provided a summary of the mandate of his SRC.
“We are going clean our house and make sure it’s in order; we are going to have an SRC that has a system of internal management; each portfolio will work according to its promise and mandate; it’s important that the SRC has a relationship with students; it must consult with students. We shall be the leader, but the students shall govern, re…simolotse” (we have started), said Mishingo.”
It remained unclear how issues surrounding elections were solved. UBCD still cries fowl about the unfairness of the elections.
Brawling for student office
Events leading up to the inauguration were tumultuous, with both sides claiming a right to office.
UB students had been without political representation since April 4, when a dispute over previous elections sparked the cancellation of the inauguration of the incoming government. It led to the SRC offices being padlocked.
The vice chancellor of the University of Botswana, Bojosi Otlhogile, appointed Professors of Law namely E K Quansah and J Kiggundu to arbitrate the election dispute April 13. “So far all seems to be going well,” Jeremiah said Tuesday, April 17. “They have called the incoming SRC to provide evidence of their case. The arbitrators themselves are eminent and diligent people.
We expect them to finish their task as soon as possible.” Jeremiah said he thought the arbitrators would reach a decision in a day or two. Speaking for the outgoing SRC, Justice Minister Kagiso Jani said that the appointed arbitrators had called involved stakeholders for evidence, including the incoming SRC, MASS BNF complaintants and Electoral Officer Mosa Solomon to provide evidence.
“However there is a possibility that some of the outgoing SRC have been called to provide evidence without my knowledge,” said Jani. “Since the disputes arose, the outgoing SRC has never functioned as a team. “My concern as an outgoing minister of justice is that justice has been delayed for a long time, and students have been without representation,” said Jani. “UB management might take advantage of the situation by adopting stringent decisions on student welfare. It is warm ground for UB management to operate without SRC.
We might be told to wear school uniform next semester.” Although Jonas could not access council quarters, he still has his office door key in his pocket, he said.
“I’m still governor. . .” “I’m still governor until proper handing over of duties has occurred,” said Jonas in an interview with the UB Horizon after the chaotic inauguration ceremony at the SU hall on Wednesday, April 4. Jonas was the one of the last guests to arrive at the inauguration ceremony that was attended by Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Nyathi Ramahobo, Director of Student Welfare Kitso Sedisa, the incoming SRC and UB students, among others.
On his arrival, Jonas stopped the inauguration ceremony, pulling plugs from the sound systems and turning the hall upside down. Chairs started flying, and there was an exchange of fists among political leaders as students yelled. Ramahobo, Sedisa and most of the incoming SRC dispersed unceremoniously, and there was no inauguration ceremony.
According to Jonas, despite the GS 26 win, he is bound by article 22 of the SRC Constitution to withhold the inauguration of the new SRC until complaints about elections are attended to. “On Monday at 2 p.m., Jonas with Jeremiah and incoming Vice President Andy Boatile sat and agreed that inaugurations will take place on Wednesday at 2 p.m,” said Jani. “On Tuesday there was noise that MASS BNF had lodged complaints concerning the elections.
Article 21.6 provides that complaints regarding elections must be written to the electoral officer within 24 hours. “I checked with the electoral officer on the same day to find out if there were any complaints lodged before him, and he denied any.
Jonas then asked me and the new SRC to handle the inaugurations ceremony. I was surprised to learn on Wednesday morning that Jonas had disseminated a memorandum communicating cancellation of the inauguration,” he said. There was talk of the establishment of a commission of inquiry to resolve the dispute. The further bickering led to the appointment of the arbitrators instead. GS-26 was keen to take over.
While two law professors arbitrated the conflict over SRC election results, perplexity arose with respect to what happens to the SRC administration in the meantime. Both the incoming and outgoing SRC expressed the desire to be in office. Jonas emphasised the necessity for compromise. “I would like to plead with the incoming SRC to let us govern until reports are out. We are prepared to hand over after assessment,” he said.
On the other hand, Mishingo and the incoming SRC seemed keen to start service. “We want to start our duties, to serve students until current issues are solved. If we have to move out in future, we shall,” he said. Sedisa asked both the incoming and outgoing SRC to let go of the office, and both said no. He then proposed that he take the SRC office keys so that none is favoured until Thursday.
“There are instances where the members of the SRC would be absent from office, and students would come to my office for assistance, and that has always worked well. I trust that if I communicate with the students on the current predicaments they would understand and use my office for services until matters are solved. So I am asking you to let me close SRC offices. Remember that I’m not empowered in this matter, I can only ask and not tell.”
Both the incoming and outgoing SRC asked for three minutes to discuss the request. After the break, Mishingo and the incoming SRC agreed to the request by means of compromise. The outgoing SRC led by Jonas refused to let the SRC office close until matters are solved. They held on to power, and – until April 19 – Jonas still had the SRC keys in his hand.
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