GABADIRWE’S LAST BEC TEA

It took him only three years to go up the ladder of hirachy in BEC, moving from a managerial position to BEC’s highest office; acting Executive Secretary, and he finally decided that it was time to bid farewell to BEC. Lesego Ntuluki and Kealeboga Tumagole had a chat with Mr Oaise Gabadirwe on his last day at the helm of BEC, over some afternoon tea.

Mr ‘G’ as he is affectionatly known on the corridors of BEC welcomed us to his office with his usuall smile and calm character as if it was just a normal afternoon; but the reality of the matter was that he has just under two hours to leave and not come back the next morning as he has tendered his resignition.

His desk is not yet tidied up and he makes a joke about it, ‘I am no leaving guys as you can see my desk is messy.’ Though he tries to conceal it his emotions sold him out as he takes a few pauses and deep sighs as he takes us through his BEC experience. The retired army Captain still remembers how he turned down two lucrative job offers to join BEC, this he attributes to his hunger for success under a challenging environment that BEC promised to be as it had just started its operations.

He first entered the doors of Botswana Examinations Council on 2^nd July 2010 as a Finance Manager, the position which he held for 2 years before acting as a Director for Corporate Services in March 2012 and was officially appointed to the position on 1^st October 2012. The transition from Finance Manager to Director of Cooperate Services was a big leap in his career; but according to him, it was just a smooth sailing as there was nothing he could not handle especially that he was familiar with the office from his days of acting. Thorough his remarkable performance Gabadirwe is to later get the nod to the office of Executive Secretary, the position which he held on acting capacity to his best capability until his departure in BEC. When asked about how it was being the acting Executive Secretary, he replied. “It was challenging in terms of the burden but I could manage because of the skills and experience I have acquired thorough out my career.

Prior to joining BEC; Gabadirwe served 11 years (1995-2006) at the Botswana defence force (BDF) after graduating from the University of Botswana with Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) where he retired at the rank of Captain. After leaving the BDF Gabadirwe went on to be self employed working as a business consultant for 3 years (2006-2009). He then worked for the National Food Technology Research Center as a Finance Manager from 2009 to 2010 before joining BEC in July 2010 as a Finance Manager. Gabadirwe explained his stay in BEC as a warm and enjoyable one because of the supportive environment that allowed him to freely express himself and grow in confidence. As a man who loves reading, Gabadirwe believes that one should always enhance his skills as they elevate in life, “you can never learn enough” said Gabadirwe.

The Lecheng born father of four will be joining a new company, Botswana Fiber Networks as a Corporate Service Executive. All the best Mr ‘G’, God bless you.

By Kealeboga Tumagole&Lesego Ntuluki