The Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) has played a crucial role in securing justice for workers affected by the liquidation of Mupane Gold Mine, which was operated by Hawks Mining. The union obtained a high court order on February 13, 2025, finalizing the mine’s liquidation and ensuring that workers would be compensated. BMWU revealed during a press conference that Mupane Gold Mine, a citizen-owned company and beneficiary of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Program (CEEP), owed workers over BWP 49 million in unpaid salaries, retrenchment benefits, and terminal packages.
According to BMWU, the mine’s financial troubles were a result of mismanagement, and the company’s directors attempted to dispose of its assets while liquidation proceedings were still ongoing. The union swiftly intervened to stop these actions, securing the mine’s remaining assets to prioritize payments to workers. The court’s ruling now ensures that employees, classified as preferential creditors, will be among the first to receive their dues.
The union also criticized regulatory bodies, particularly the Competition Authority and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, for failing to address concerns raised when Mupane Gold Mine was sold. BMWU had objected to the sale, warning that the transaction posed risks to workers’ interests, but the authorities ignored their appeals. With the final liquidation now in place, the union hopes that lessons will be learned to prevent similar failures in the future.
