Mass Rally in Botswana over Debswana's Intransigence

A mass rally and march will occur next month in Botswana over the government’s failure to intervene in the dismissal of 461 workers last year at diamond-mining enterprise Debswana. The Botswana Federation of Trade Unions is conducting the strike, and it is also a protest by the country’s unions against Debswana’s refusal to recognise new leadership of ICEM affiliate Botswana Mining Workers’ Union. Trade unions are seeking a re-work of employer-favoured labour legislation passed in May 2004, legislation which Debswana—a joint venture between DeBeers and the government—used to sack the 461 for striking illegally.