Debswana managers fault restructuring exercise

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Correspondent | Friday April 20, 2007 00:00

 

The employees have written to Marole showing their displeasure with the consultants carrying out the restructuring. 'To say their grievances represent the grievances of all senior members, will be deceiving. They are pushing for their own self-interest. These are the same people who chose the consultants that they are now dismissing. The restructuring exercise started last year with full support of management. I do not serve only a few people. I have got 5000 workers to look after,' Marole said. Mmegi understands that the restructuring project that was expected to be concluded smoothly now threatens to destabilise Debswana projects. Reports indicate that an undisclosed number of top managers and other key staff are opting for exit packages. It is reported the company has suspended a P90 million systems and procedures project because a key manager has left. Reports say it would cost P30 million to restart the project.

Marole could not give reasons for the postponement of the project. But he denied that the postponement has anything to do with the departure of the team leader. 'How can one man's  leaving cause a project of this magnitude to collapse? The project is managed by a team of professionals, who are locals, and I am the head,' he said.

The exit of top managers at Debswana was triggered by the company's offer of lucrative packages targeting 100 workers at its headquarters in Gaborone. The company is seeking to restructure and abolish some departments. It is said the suspension of the systems and procedures project has caused a lot of confusion at Debswana. It has forced the management to suspend its restructuring scheduled for completion at the end of this month. A source inside Debswana said workers who have been retrenched were told to wait for another six to nine months while the management is working around the clock to get the suspended project rolling again. Reports say staff are opting out because of the new short contracts that they were expected to sign.

Should the restructuring exercise go ahead as planned, it is feared that many projects at Debswana would stall.