The pain of losing a job

| Friday July 25, 2008 00:00

FRANCISTOWN: Ivor Moses, a former concrete hands supervisor employed by GLTA Company at the construction site of the multi-billion Activox Refinery, says his job loss has complicated his life. Moses is one of the nearly 1, 000 workers who became jobless as a result of the Activox collapse.

Until June 4, Moses' plans to marry his long-time girlfriend were advanced. Ever since Norilsk Nickel International chief executive, Peter Breese, announced the indefinite postponement of the construction of the Activox Refinery plant, his plans literally crumbled.

'I am currently jobless and temporarily staying with a cousin before my ultimate departure for Bokspits where I originate,' Moses says. His move from a house that he shared with a colleague where they were sharing the P1, 200 rent per month has relieved him of the burden of possibly failing to pay his share.

His job-loss has also occasioned loss of income to the landlord after he moved his goods elsewhere while he wraps up his affairs before he departs for his home village in Kgalagadi.

'My plans for marriage were seriously advanced when we were told to pack and leave the construction site. Do you think there is a woman these days who can commit herself to a man who is unemployed?,' Moses asks dejectedly.

His figures don't add up. He says again of his stalled marriage plans: 'I am not certain that I will be able to resuscitate the process. Even the family of my intended bride will advise their daughter not to overburden herself with an unemployed man.'

Moses has decided to pack his goods and trek back to his native Bokspits rather than hang around town without the means to sustain city life.

'I was one of the first people to be employed by GLTA at the site and I signed a contract for up to the end of the project. I expected to be here for over two years at least or even more,' he explains.

In just a month after becoming jobless, Moses confesses that he cannot cope. 'I had already committed myself to certain goals and obligations,' he says. 'Failing to meet them now is a bitter pill to swallow. Things like hire-purchase and bank loans are giving me sleepless nights.'

He suspects his employers kept the bad development to themselves until the last day when they were told 'you no longer have jobs'.

'We were kept in the dark about this whole thing. When it finally came, it was a big blow to all of us. I have learnt a lesson that even after working for a period of six months, employers can simply dump you.'

Up to June 4, 29 year old Andesh Kelegelwang was until employed by CCB Company at the Activox site as a carpenter. He has since warned his landlord in Matshelagabedi about his impending departure for Serowe, his hometown. During his days at his workplace he was also a shop steward.

'Life is proving difficult without a job,' Kelegelwang says, rather needlessly. 'I have left my belongings in the house there. My brother will fetch the stuff and leave the house vacant.

'I was paying tuition fees for my younger sister who is doing courses. I just wonder who is going to assist my sister who did not do well enough in her Cambridge to attract a government bursary.'

In addition to his sister, Kelegelwang also provided for his unemployed parents. 'I just have to work hard to get a job again,' he says, 'otherwise problems will just mount and mount.'

Peter Amos is another frustrated man who lost his job at a time when he was planning to get married to his girlfriend, the mother of his two children.

'Life has changed for the worst,' Amos moans. 'My responsibilities included school fees, school uniforms and providing essentials for my two children, one in Standard Five, the other in Standard Two.

'I have also adopted a nephew who has lost his parents and is currently doing Form Five in Masunga. I pay his fees as well. Losing my job is torturing me because there is no alternative support for all these people.'

Like most employed people, Amos has also taken out loans and is now wondering where he he going to get the money to meet all the obligations.

'It is difficult to claim that all those that I owe will be understanding. I had signed a renewable contract up to August 2009 as a Survey levelling officer with Kalcon Company and I committed myself basing on this agreement,' he explains.

On a social level, Amos is also unhappy that losing his job also meant parting with some of his colleagues. 'Some have gone back to their homes while others will be collecting their belongings and vacating their houses in town soon,' he says. 'Afterall, they no longer have the means or right to occupy such houses.'

He cannot understand why the Botswana government could not use its shareholding - albeit it being a minor 15 percent - in Tati Nickel Mine to influence the majority shareholders Norilsk Nickel International not to dump workers employed by the numerous contractors on site.

'We have been making endless trips to the offices of the Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) in Francistown with the hope that something positive may emerge,' he explains, 'but so far zilch!'

Peter Breese of Norilsk says the decision to halt construction of the Activox was taken in view of the economics as it was now proving very expensive to continue with the project.

'The decision was taken after careful consideration and was communicated to stakeholders,' says Breese. 'Even a third party's expert recommendation revealed the difficulty of continuing with the project.'

Sceptics have suggested that the Russian-based Norilsk Nickel International halted  the project in order to transfer the technology - touted as a world first - to Russia.

Said Wayne Venter, the General Manager of Botswana Metal Refinery (BMR), recently: 'I do not rule out the possibility of the mother company relocating the Activox to Russia because the technology does not pollute the environment.'

The trio in this story - Amos, Moses and Kelegelwang - enjoyed working at the site of the Activox, more so that they were shop stewards for the BMWU which signed an agreement with the main contractor HATCH Africa less than six month ago.

'What can we do when told we no longer have jobs?, Amos queries. 'Our fortunes have all gone up in smoke. That's how life goes, anyway.'

But they are determined to fight to be paid what they believe is due to them, 'come what may.'