Sparks fly as mineworkers meet Khoemacau ExCo
The Botswana Mineworkers Union (BMWU) has demanded the replacement of the current Khoemacau Copper Mining executive committee to help quell long-running tensions at the copper mine as the new Chinese owners take over.
BusinessWeek is informed that the mineworkers met with executive management this week in the aftermath of the $1.8 billion (P25.2 billion) deal sealed by MMG to take over the country’s largest copper producer.
In a heated meeting that reportedly ended abruptly, BusinessWeek is reliably informed that BMWU President Joseph Tsimako told the Khoemacau CEO, John Ferreira, that mineworkers do not want him as CEO or in the Executive Committee (ExCo) when MMG fully takes over the operations of the mine.
BMWU has previously marched to deliver petitions against Khoemacau, claiming various forms of unfair practices against workers, including expatriate/citizen pay disparities and alleged discrimination. The Mine’s management has strenuously denied the accusations, pointing to the absence of adverse labour inspection reports and the investments made over the years in developing the mine and empowering the community.
The BMWU last week released a statement accusing Khoemacau Copper of keeping it in the dark regarding the recent acquisition, adding that it was concerned about how the new owners would approach employee welfare.
Yesterday, Tsimako confirmed to BusinessWeek that BMWU had drawn a line in the sand in its meeting with the ExCo.
“If MMG wants to work well with us, they should consider changing the management,” he said.
Khoemacau’s CEO and management could not be reached for comment, but in a media briefing last week, executives and MMG representatives said they were committed to empowering Batswana and availing more opportunities from the Mine.
However, Tsimako said the Union is still conducting investigations into MMG’s background to establish how the group handles employees’ welfare, workplace safety and other critical labour issues.
“We do not know who MMG is.
“Even though they told us they have been successful, it is very difficult on our part to accept.
“We need to find out who they really are besides what we see on social media,” he said.
MMG is a Chinese mega-firm with state-owned majority ownership. The firm is finalising regulatory approvals and is due to completely takeover Khoemacau in the first half of next year.