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Botswana: BTV's Montlenyane Shipped to Trade
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
18 July 2008
Posted to the web 18 July 2008
Bame Piet
The recent transfer of one of Radio Botswana's longest serving personalities, Montlenyane Baaitse to the Ministry of Trade and Industry has raised eyebrows and rumours that she was re-deployed at the instruction of the Office of the President.
It is alleged that Baaitse was re-deployed following failure to cover the launch of the constituency league on Friday July 4 by Botswana Television. This is said to have annoyed President Ian Khama who officiated at the event.
Baaitse was Head of News and Current Affairs at Btv. The event was held at Botswana Football's Lekidi centre.
The Director of Broadcasting Service, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo, says Baaitse applied for re-deployment to MTI. "As far as I know it had nothing to do with anything else but that.
As I'm sure you know, Ms. Baaitse is not the first officer from our establishment to be re-deployed to another government department. Usually this is at the request of the officers concerned," he stated.
He positively acknowledged Baaitse's contribution at Btv. "Much as it is my wish to retain talent and experience within Radio Botswana and Botswana television, the fact is that people are always changing jobs for personal and other reasons.
"We are no exception at broadcasting services.
Finally, let me say that we did explain and apologise on Btvfor our failure to cover the launch of the constituency league games, you may recall," Kaboeamodimo said.
Contacted for comment, Baaitse said that she has never shown interest in leaving the department. "All I remember is that I made an application around 2005 or 2006, but my superiors turned it down," she said.
She expressed shock at reports that her re-deployment was as a result of Btv's failure to give coverage to the launch of constituency league games. She explained that the sports section is independent of news and current affairs. A person of her rank heads sports.
"It would be unfortunate if this decision was taken because of that," she said in a telephone interview yesterday.
Still in shock, Baaitse said that if it is true the redeployment emanated from Btv's failure to cover the BFA event, it could also be that the authorities made enquiries from the wrong person who misled them.
"If the decision was made at the top, they were misled.
Either they asked the wrong person, but I doubt it because they know our structures," she said.
Coordinator of Government Communications and Information Services, Jeff Ramsay said the re-deployment had nothing to do with OP although he revealed that they were disappointed because Btv arrived late at the event.
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"All I know is that she got a substantial job at MTI," he said.
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