Employee relates journey with Debswana
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Tuesday July 23, 2019 19:15
From his humble beginnings and low academic qualifications, Leso rose through the ranks to his current position.
Armed only with a primary school certificate, Leso joined Debswana in 1977 during the opening of Letlhakane Mine.
Relating his story at Debswana’s 50th Anniversary celebrations on Saturday, Leso said: “I believe I am one of the fortunate few to be employed by De Beers back then in this district when only the Letlhakane and Orapa operations were in existence before the opening of the Damtshaa operation”.
He jovially stated that those who were there back then would remember that Debswana recruited its employees at the Letlhakane Kgotla before the advent of technology.
“Technological developments such as WhatsApp and Facebook were non-existent. We raised hands so that the mine’s personnel officers could hire us. By God’s grace, I was hired in February, 1977 as a gardener on a temporary basis and was later hired on a full time basis as a messenger/cleaner and progressed on a number of roles up to my current role as a Maintainer Operator in the laboratory,” Leso said.
He said he disguised his real age in order to qualify for employment with the giant diamond mining company.
“I was aged 17 when I joined this company, but I raised my age in order to qualify to be hired by Debswana. Drawing from my 42 years of great service to this great company, I have seen and contributed to Debswana’s humble beginnings and have seen this company grow to become the employer of choice and a key national development partner,” said Leso.
He further stated that the massive resources that people currently see were non-existent in the past.
“However, we were able to meet the production targets due to our passion and passionate behavioural attitude towards work. I wish to re-emphasise this to my fellow workers that their attitude and behaviour determines their success in life. This company has moulded me into a very responsible citizen. I recall that in those earlier days most of Botswana was very rural even Letlhakane. There were only three shops in Letlhakane. The tarmac road linking Orapa to Francistown, Serowe and Maun was non-existent,” Leso recalled.
Recounting his life’s journey, Leso said that back then life was good.
“I started earning P57, but most of the workers were foreigners. We learnt a lot from those foreigners. I am very proud today to see a lot of educated Batswana holding high positions in the company. It would be amiss of me as a mine employee not to emphasise on safety. Our safety procedures are anchored on the foundation that was laid when the mine started,” he said.
“For example, it is a well known fact that from time immemorial, alcohol has not been allowed in the mine hence back then, the security officers were always on high alert to make sure that employees who drank alcohol were not allowed to enter the mine,” said Leso.
The married father of two children, a teacher and fashion designer, concluded his remarks by saying that he would always be grateful and proud of Debswana for giving him the opportunity to raise a family of responsible children.
“My children are more educated thanks to Debswana,” he said.