On Friday morning, the enquiry was scheduled to hear evidence from the three suspended miners but union representatives were told that they were unwelcome as the suspended trio were set to give evidence.The Botswana Mine Workers Union president, Jack Tlhagale, told The Monitor that he was told that he was not allowed to sit in the enquiry when the suspended trio was to give evidence. Tlhagale said the Director of Mines, Gabotshwarege Tshekiso, contacted him on Friday morning informing him that he would not be allowed to sit in the enquiry.
Tlhagale said he then informed Tshekiso to write him a letter to the effect that he was not allowed in the meeting but failed to do so.
He added that after communicating while waiting for the letter, an Inspector from the Department of Mines Mulenga Tembe who was present at the meeting informed him that he was not allowed to sit in the enquiry."I refused to leave the room where the panel was meeting. They threatened to call the police and I gave them the go ahead. While waiting for the police, they came back and called off the meeting," Tlhagale said. He added that the suspended trio was then ordered to submit written statements to the panel. Tlhagale said he could not understand why they were barred from the meeting after attending all previous witnesses' testimonies.
"Already 10 people had testified and we have been present all along. We cannot understand why we are being barred from listening to evidence of these ones today (Friday)," Tlhagale said. When contacted Tembe refused to comment.
