UDC probes fatal BCL Mine accident
Onalenna Kelebeile | Wednesday September 17, 2014 13:25
The party’s parliamentary hopeful for Selebi-Phikwe West, Moeti Mohwasa told a rally on Sunday that the law firm would investigate the accident and help the family of the late mine worker sue the mine in the event there is evidence of negligence. The firm would also seek better compensation for the deceased.
Bohiwemang Mogowe died following an explosion while working underground at the Selebi shaft while his colleague on the same shift was left critically injured. The deceased’s family complained that they did not receive satisfactory support from the mine and even alleged that Magowe was working while his contract had long expired.
Meanwhile, Mohwasa told the rally their call for a change of government is premised on the “fear that people are living under as a result of state spies”.
He said this was shown by an incident in which a UDC campaign manager was found stripped naked and murdered in Tlokweng last week.
Meanwhile, the UDC’s candidate for Selebi-Phikwe East, Dimpho Mashaba said if he and Mohwasa are elected to parliament, they will fight to ensure that a new hospital for the town is included in the National Development Plan 11.
He said government has never built a hospital in Selebi-Phikwe as the current one was initially a garage that was donated to government by a businessman. He claimed that the situation at the health facility is so bad that many patients lose their lives due to shortage of drugs and inadequate staffing.
“The state of affairs at the hospital is a clear indication of negligence and lack of political leadership under the ruling party and the Botswana Congress Party who are both running the council and have a member of parliament in town,” he said.
Mashaba said the labour issues dogging BCL Mine are a serious concern in Selebi-Phikwe, adding that the mine should be exemplary in its adherence to labour laws as it is wholly owned by government.
“In some cases, the mine engages workers as casuals for too long against labour law stipulations,” he charged.
“The UDC will engage the Botswana Mine Workers Union so that the mine extends temporary workers’ contracts to three years. They too must be entitled to benefits such as medical aid and other incentives.”