Information reaching this publication indicates that workers at Masama Coal Mine have gone unpaid for four consecutive months, prompting a fierce outcry from the Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU), which is calling for urgent government intervention and accountability from all stakeholders involved.
At the centre of the storm is Meropa Resources, a contractor operating at Minergy’s Masama Coal Mine. The BMWU has accused the company of failing to pay its workers, resulting in severe financial strain for affected employees and their families.
“This is a blatant and unacceptable injustice,” said BMWU General Secretary Mbiganyi Gaekgotswe. “The non-payment of wages is not only a breach of contract but a violation of human rights and a direct attack on the well-being of the working class.”
The union said it has made repeated attempts to engage with Meropa Resources, Minergy, the Minerals Development Company Botswana (MDCB), and government officials, but those efforts have failed to produce any tangible results.
“We are gravely concerned by the ongoing violation of workers’ rights. The unresponsiveness we’ve encountered undermines the principles of fairness, justice, and social dialogue that underpin Botswana’s labour framework,” Gaekgotswe added.
With negotiations reportedly at a standstill, the BMWU says it has now referred the matter to the Commissioner of Labour under the Trade Dispute Act and is preparing for legal action. Despite the looming court case, the union says it remains open to a peaceful resolution.
“We urge government and employers to do the right thing and ensure workers are paid what they are owed. Their welfare must not be treated as an afterthought,” Gaekgotswe emphasized.
Neither Meropa Resources nor Minergy—listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange—has publicly responded to the allegations. The ongoing silence from both companies has only fuelled frustration among workers and their union.
Located near Medie village in the Kweneng District, the Masama Coal Mine is Botswana’s first privately-owned coal operation and a critical supplier to regional energy markets. The current crisis not only threatens the livelihoods of workers but also the mine’s operational continuity and public image.
As the impasse continues, all eyes are now on the government and the mine’s operators to act swiftly to resolve the dispute and restore stability at one of the country’s key mining assets.
