Illegal settlements by ex-BCL miners irk villagers

Speaking during the last day of the three-day fourth Botswana’s Alternative Mining Forum in Selebi-Phikwe on Wednesday, the villagers explained that those settlements are being set up by the former BCL employees who are now keen to venture into farming.

A Mmadinare resident, Thatayaone Marumo stated that though they have experienced a similar problem in the past, where retired miners were illegally occupying land in their area, the situation has worsened since the closure of the BCL, as many people are fleeing the copper and nickel town to find new means of survival.