19 Nov 2013

The BCL Mine long service employees and retirees have been commended for their contribution towards the growth and development of the company, town and the country as a whole.

The former Chief Justice, Mr Julian Nganunu said this during the BCL Mine long service and retirees’ awards ceremony where 119 employees received awards for working in the mine for 20 years and beyond while others were retiring from the organisation.

About six employees were honoured for not working less than 40 years, 19 employees for clocking two decades on the job while 94 were retiring. Mr Nganunu said since the inception of the BCL Mine, the organisation has been experiencing challenges financially and the government had always been supportive to BCL when it was financially unstable.

He said he has been informed that such challenges are now history. “These people that we are celebrating especially those with 40, 35, 25, and 20 years on the job have worked very hard to bring the company to the level it is now and they must be commended for their effort,” he said.

They must have become disciplined, patient and extremely hard working to keep the company afloat, he said. For many years, he noted, there had been threats of the mine closure due to depression of the ore which also meant a slow death and closure of Selebi Phikwe township.

“This was a tremendous threat that could not be allowed to occur. This means that the hard work that the veterans have put in the organisation needs to be respected and honoured by Batswana,” he said.Mr Nganunu said those who are retiring would find life after retirement still a challenge as before and implored them to utilise their retirement funds wisely with proper planning instead of going on a spending spree.

He urged them to use the skills acquired for their own benefit and their communities. “People retiring from the mining environment have huge technical skills and knowledge needed by people in their villages and communities, “he said.

The BCL was also called on to continue training people as the country needs skillful people. Mr Nganunu said the individual employees that were recognised feel proud and elated that they too as individuals have all along been appreciated.

“The ceremony serves as a day for encouragement to the workers that remain in the company and a day of thanksgiving to those who are retiring,” he said.

He said he believes that BCL adheres to the NOSA five star integrated system which is very practical and involves its employees in issues of safety. He also encouraged BCL to continue being environmentally conscious.

For his part, BCL general manager, Mr Dan Mahupela said that the awards are a signatory event of BCL where the organisation recognises its employees for their priceless contribution and loyalty to the company.

He said the awards function is a celebration for the commitment, dedication and hard work put in by the employee. Each individual has set a unique footprint at the organization, he added. Ends