BMWU bemoans exclusion from Khoemacau mine sale

Botswana Mine Workers Union ( BMWU) has raised alarm on an alleged systematic exclusion from mining sale agreements in the country’s mining industry. The grumble comes following the recent public announcement on the acquisition of Khoemacau Copper Mine. Last year, Chinese miner bought Canada- based Cuprous Capital, the parent company of the Khoemacau Copper Mine, after hunting for copper assets for more than a year. However, the acquisition has irked BMWU who has bemoaned the country’s Competition and Authority Act for lack of a provision under public interest in which workers and especially trade unions could ordinarily employ to protect their members during mergers and acquisitions, limiting the scope of public interest interventions in such commercial transactions.“Intervention is only limited to merger related retrenchments and fails to cover non- compliance with related legal requirements. This is a serious gap in the law and the Union has committed to challenging these elitist and capitalistic laws which are intended to keep the working- class poor,” said BMWU General Secretary, Mbiganyi Gaekgotswe. BMWU has raised concerns after meeting with the MMG executives following the company’s public announcement of the completion of its acquisition of Khoemacau Copper Mine. “The primary objective of the high- level meeting was to introduce the Union to the MMG management team, and further to be briefed on the vision of the company as it relates to the running of Khoemacau Copper Mine,” said Gaekgotswe. At the meeting, the Union raised several concerns including responsibilities for outstanding liabilities created by previous owners and those that have been carried forward after the completion of sale. “The Union highlighted concerns over workers conditions of work; safety and health standards; instances of harassment perpetrated by the CEO John Ferreira; who to the dismay of the Union has been retained by MMG Limited,” Gaekgotswe said. The Union further advised MMG Limited that for harmonious industrial relations to prevail at Khoemacau operations, the company had to consider the appointment of a new CEO to run the company. “The Union equally emphasized improvement of other facets of KCM’s working environment, including, noise pollution, working hours, housing conditions, discriminatory practices based on race and compliance with good labour practices.” Meanwhile, MMG Limited leadership, assured the Union of its commitment to sustainable mining practices. As a company listed in the stock exchange, they are mandated to maintain the highest standards of corporate governance and ESG principles.

“They intend to maintain the same human resources processes including the pay cycle. The company informed the Union that it subscribes to a safety performance and fatal risk standards.”

In addition, the Union raised its desire to meet with the board chairman of MMG to engage at a high- level to conclude on the matters which the Union had raised with the board before the sale transaction.