03 Dec 2025

Minister of Communications and Innovation, Mr David Tshere says employees of Meropa Resources were issued letters of intent to retrench end of August this year.

Responding to a question in Parliament on Wednesday, on behalf of Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr Tshere said due to the current liquidity challenges faced by the company, terminal benefits were yet to be processed.

He said the matter was outlined during the last engagement with employees in Lentsweletau on August 19 where management explained the steps being taken to contain the escalating costs.

“It is evident that lack of payment of terminal benefits has likely delayed medical exit clearances, however, I wish to clarify that pre-employment medical examinations are conducted by each prospective employer, regardless of previous employer clearances as those records remain specific to the former employer,” said Mr Tshere.

“While this does not eliminate the inconvenience caused, it ensures that new employers can still assess fitness for duty independently,” he added.

He said Mineral Development Corporation Botswana (MDCB), Botswana Development Corporation and Minergy Limited were engaged in joint negotiation with potential investors to secure a capital infusion into the business.

Mr Tshere stated that a key component of the process was the resolution of outstanding employee payment obligations and that the ministry acknowledged the severity of the situation and the hardship endured by the employees.

“While this is a complex and lengthy undertaking, negotiations have advanced significantly with several investors and government remains committed to ensuring that employees receive their due entitlements,” he said.

To mitigate the situation, Mr Tshere said a four-month salary payout was extended through MDCB, to cover the period up to July 31 this year, providing temporary relief while long-term solutions were being pursued.

Member of Parliament for Tswapong South, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang had asked the minister to appraise Parliament on the fate of some 500 employees of Meropa Resources.

Dr Gobotswang wanted the minister to state if the ministry was aware that employees of the company were issued letters of intent to retrench effective August 31 yet there had been no proper communication or progress regarding payment of terminal benefits and the completion of the medical exit procedures.

He also wanted the minister to state if the delay had placed the employees at a severe disadvantage as the lack of medical exit clearance had prevented them from seeking and securing new employment opportunities elsewhere.

Dr Gobotswang asked if the ministry was aware that as a result of prolonged uncertainty surrounding their retrenchment and outstanding entitlements, employees continued to suffer financial and emotional distress, and what remedies were in place to assist the employees. ENDS