BMWU criticises gov't's negligence amidst industry turmoil
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday April 9, 2024 09:41
He was speaking at the union’s National Executive Committee (NEC) statutory meeting over the weekend.
Tsimako said the government has in recent years shown less keenness to address the plight of the union and its members despite a series of challenges that they face. “We have petitioned companies, and government in respect of these issues as far back as 2021. We made submissions to His Excellency the President who committed to meeting with the union. Our last petition was in October 2023 in respect of the BCL housing evictions,” said Tsimako. “To date, the leadership of the country has not responded or given attention to our issues.
What is frustrating about these issues is the fact that the mine workers are the drivers of Botswana’s economy.” Tsimako emphasised the need for the NEC to come up with measures that will ensure that grievances of mine workers are effectively dealt with before they spiral out of control.
The union president added that the current economic situation in Botswana's diamond sector is concerning, with various challenges impacting both the industry and the broader economy. He expressed worry that the decline in diamond trade markets, coupled with reduced international demand for Botswana diamonds, pose significant hurdles for companies operating in the sector, something that will likely result in massive job losses unless several interventions were put in place. According to Tsimako the Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy (CEEP), meant to empower Batswana, has exacerbated problems in the mining sector and has significantly contributed to plummeting labour standards in the sector and retrenchments are becoming all too common. “Many big mining operations are privatising and outsourcing their services.
The CEEP policy, which was intended to create jobs, is failing Batswana. It has created more problems than it has solved, especially in the supply chains,” Tsimako said. “Labour standards in the services and contracting companies are poor. Companies (citizen-owned) are resorting to cost-cutting measures which are resulting in widespread retrenchments in almost all operations.” Tsimako is troubled by the escalating instability in the mining sector, which is resulting in reduced revenue, dwindling union membership, and a gradual erosion of the union's ability to negotiate effectively on behalf of workers.
This trend, he explains, exposes workers to exploitation and manipulation. Consequently, Tsimako stresses the urgent need for the union to devise innovative strategies to maintain its viability and enhance its bargaining power in the face of these challenges. The union is in the process of rolling out a five-year strategy aimed at broadening its revenue base to reduce reliance on membership subscriptions.