MPs spot Chinese beating up Batswana workers

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Friday September 10, 2010 00:00

The altercations allegedly sparked by the reports made by some Batswana employees to the visiting parliamentary labour relations committee on site on Monday, left about four Chinese apprehended and charged for assaulting Batswana whilst on duty.

Officer Commanding Police District Number One, Senior Superintendent Alakanani Makobo, confirmed yesterday that his officers have apprehended and charged four Chinese nationals for assaulting Batswana whilst on duty at the Francistown Stadium.

He indicated that one case was reported on Monday in which a Chinese national assaulted a Botswana colleague at the work place. The next day, Makobo said, one more Chinese nationals allegedly beat up his Botswana colleague at the work place.

As if this was not enough, two more Chinese were arrested and charged for allegedly assaulting another Motswana at the construction site also at the Francistown Stadium last Tuesday.

“The four Chinese nationals are currently in police custody pending police investigations and are billed to appear before court once the investigations are completed,” said the police chief.

Asked about the possible cause of the altercations between the Chinese and Botswana colleagues, Makobo stated, “ What we have gathered is that the Chinese generally do not have respect for the rights of Botswana workers. When they (Chinese) are questioned on some of these issues, they choose to fight without any reasonable cause”.

The police chief indicated that it was common cause that the visible bodily injuries of the victims of assault bore bruises.

Makobo indicated that they have never had the cases of this nature before saying it was a new development.“It’s unusual for us to receive reports of people fighting at the work place,” said Makobo.

This week Wednesday, one of the Botswana employees, Kutlwano Mashumba, a bricklayer, alleged: “I am even scared of talking to you right now because I might get into trouble when you are gone”.

According to the same papet, the industrial relations manager for Tuwana Construction, Lawrence Nasha, admitted that there have been some altercations between Batswana employees and some Chinese.

Members of the parliamentary labour relations committee who had toured the Francistown Stadium included MPs Slumber Tsogwane, Prince Maele, Nehemiah Modubule, Rayner Makosha and Dumelang Saleshando.

Mmegi is also privy to the details that immediately it was made known to the parliamentary committee that the Chinese employers were likely to revenge by beating Batswana employees, one of the committee members was left behind to watch the situation. The fears of Batswana workers were immediately confirmed.

“It’s disappointing that immediately after we were warned that Chinese were likely not to take the meeting kindly, they reacted as alleged. Whilst we are going to leave this for the law to take its course, I think it calls for sterner action,” said a member of the parliamentary committee who preferred to remain anonymous because he has reported this matter to his parliamentary colleagues.