BMWU suspends Khoemacau peaceful demonstration
FRANCISTOWN: The Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) has halted its plans for a peaceful demonstration against Khoemacau Copper Mining (Pty) Ltd.
The BMWU was to hold a peaceful demonstration and hand over a petition to the Ngamiland District Commissioner today (Friday) in Maun.
The petition and the peaceful demonstration were against allegations of violations of rights of the disgruntled employees of Khoemacau such as unbearable conditions of service, no proper accommodation, rampant racism, unfair labour practices to mention a few.
Following the letter submitted to Khoemacau management, the BMWU general-secretary Maenge Maenge told Mmegi that the management requested for a meeting with the union on Tuesday.
He said they met with management over issues affecting their employees.
“The management has requested some time to prepare for their response. We are to meet again with the same management next week Wednesday to get their feedback. In the meantime, the petition is suspended until further notice,” said BMWU general-secretary.
According to Maenge, the outcome of their engagement with management next week will determine the way forward for the petition.
If the demands are not met, especially those that speak on condition of service then a new date will be set for a peaceful demonstration and handing over of the petition, he added.
Khoemacau vice president Human Resource and Communication Mmama Mhlanga-Fichani confirmed that the peaceful demonstration is no longer going to take place. However, she indicated that Mmegi should contact the BMWU for further clarity and or detail. BMWU through the petition are accusing Khoemacau management of violating the rights of workers and regarded the same employees as victims of the mining company’s system.
According to the document handed over to management, the move for a petition follows numerous attempts by their employees to meaningfully engage with the management and the results came negative.
“The conditions of service are unbearable; people are kept in the bush in the mercy of vicious wild animals, no proper accommodation, no medical facilities, rampant racism and barbaric employment processes and unfair labour practices and inhumane treatment at the expense of mining our precious mineral,” reads the letter issued by Maenge.
The letter also highlighted that employees are forced to vacate a habitable place in Toteng to stay in the bush just to make way for contractors to stay safe there.
The report also stated that it is of great concern that it came out evident from their interaction with Khoemacau management that they are architects of all these ills.
Sampling that the recognition agreement that has been on the table for the past six months with their interference frustrating the process.
“We have noted with shock your remarks that the union needs to be frustrated at all costs as they are not there to run the company. The remarks are a serious breach of contract of the processes and lack respect to the labour laws and not befitting to be uttered by a person of your calibre and or position and needs to be retracted with an apology,” reads the document.
For the past months, there have been reports and allegations of unbearable conditions of service, victimisation, favouritism and blatant racism by foreign management against local employees at Khoemacau.