BCL miners invade Gabs, petition Masisi

Oarabile Mosikare | Wednesday July 6, 2016 18:00

 

The march and petition come in the wake of a series of accidents at the Selebi Phikwe mine, which, this year alone, have resulted in four deaths and at least eight serious injuries. Yesterday’s appeal saw the Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) booking Bamangwato Coach Tours buses to transport the aggrieved demonstrators from Selebi-Phikwe to the capital city.  Although the BMWU lost an urgent Monday night application against the government after they were denied a route to demonstrate, the situation changed yesterday morning. The miners were allowed to demonstrate around the streets of Gaborone before handing the petition to the Vice President. During the demonstration, the aggrieved miners demanded the resignation of BCL managing director, Daniel Mahupela. They also wondered about the whereabouts of Selebi-Phikwe East MP, Nonofo Molefhi. The petitioners also demanded that BCL “stop the killing and enforce the law”. The demonstration attracted opposition legislators like Tlamelo Mmatli, Samuel Rantuana, Ndaba Gaolathe, Wynter Mmolotsi, Haskins Nkaigwa, Noah Salakae, Phenyo Butale and Dithapelo Keorapetse. Also present was former Gaborone Central MP, Dumelang Saleshando. Before BMWU president Jack Tlhagale read the petition, fellow unionists from Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) and Botswana Diamond Workers Unions (BDWU) addressed the demonstrators.

They were reminded of an old labour movement adage ‘an injury to one, is an injury to all’. When he took the stage, Tlhagale stated that, “within the last five years, a total of 15 employees died on duty trying to make a living at BCL Mine in separate fatal accidents and many others sustained serious injuries with some of them becoming permanently incapacitated”.

He said accidents continue to happen and employees are dismissed on medical grounds before they have fully recuperated. They also, he said, lose company medical cover after three months of boarding. “It is important to realise that accidents do not only result in deaths and injuries, but do cause utmost suffering to families and dependents of the affected.

The population of parentless children is increasing with each fatality at the same time these children do not get proper upbringing after the demise of those they depended on. The cost of medical care continues to rise and has become unaffordable for the injured as our current survey has found out,” said Tlhagale. He said they have observed that with every accident, the Department of Mines comes on site to investigate or to conduct an enquiry about the cause on behalf of the government in terms of the standing regulations in the Mines, Quarries, Works and Machinery Act. Mine inspectors have subsequently complained that their recommendations and safety procedures are not complied with or enforced, Tlhagale said. “The problem with government investigations is threefold; first, reports are kept secret making it difficult for employees to make an input to corrective measures. Second, there are no corrective measures taken to avert future similar occurrences according to complaints raised by mine inspectors. Third, there is no real consequence for negligence committed by management.”

The union leader said there has been a lot of negativity played by management which paints a gloomy picture about the future of the mine. “Listening to management talk about how they want to give the mine a new lease of life it is apparent that their vision lacks a focused strategic direction. Therefore, they do not promise a more productive and profitable company. In short the management sees sale of assets, property and retrenchment of employees as a solution. In regard to sale of property it is most unfair that it is contemplated at  when the purchasing power of employees is crippled by the impending retrenchment. There is no clarity on how the company positions itself in readiness for market upturn. It is regrettable that management seem to have succeeded in convincing everybody else that the life of BCL ended with the fall in commodity prices and government has become gullible to this and seems to accept that closing BCL Mine or some of the shafts is the way to go,” he said.

Receiving the petition, Masisi asserted that government encourages unionism in Botswana. He said workers in Botswana are protected and they should feel free to voice their concerns.

Masisi promised to share the petition with cabinet today.