Onalenna Modikwa
29 September 2008
Tonota — Thousands of people from the labour movement on Saturday thronged Tonota village to pay their last respects to former Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) president, Golekanye Mogende.
Mogende committed suicide in his under construction house in Kopong, in a move that left many in a state of shock. Several speakers described him as a tireless fighter who wanted to see things properly done. His uncle Khumo Mogende explained that for the past two months Mogende showed signs of ill health and indicated that he would quit the union job by December this year because it was too demanding and his family was suffering in the process.
He noted that Mogende left a message on his cell phone, which he suspects he wanted to send to some people but was not transmitted. The message reportedly read: "My journey in life ends here. My family is innocent. Lots of love to my wife, family and relatives."
The uncle said there were also some notes in his diary in which he noted down all the people who owed him.
BMWU representative Rex Tambala said the labour movement is saddened at the death of a champion of the workers' struggle in Botswana and in the region. He noted that Mogende leaves behind a very good legacy of a fighter for human rights and his death has created a gap that will be difficult to fill at a time when workers are faced with mass retrenchments and the erosion of permanent jobs by contract and agency labour in the country. "We are lost for words and the tragedy has given us a fright. He was a strong man who never failed an issue and he was an assertive talker which earned him the presidency of the union in March this year."
For his part, Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) president Japhta Radibe, took a swipe at the employers "who are so cruel and tend to derive pleasure from workers' sufferings". He said what some employers do only needs divine intervention.
"Some employers have turned into the Pharaohs and Herods of this world. There are others among them whose deeds might deny them to inherit the kingdom of God. This is a democratic country and such employers are out to devalue the democracy that was fought for by the likes of the late Sir Seretse Khama."
Radibe also stressed that trade union work is strenuous that one must sacrifice his personal life, family life and even resources to fulfil. He cited the 2004 incidents in which 461 Debswana employees were dismissed and said it was in the same year that Mogende and others were sacked from BCL mine.
He said Mogende proved his dedication and determination to fight for workers' rights that he sacrificed his job at the mine. "Re nale mathata a gore fa o bua ka ditshwanelo tsa babereki o a kobiwa mo tirong. Mogende was undaunted. BCL mine, Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs and that of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources knew him well."
Among the speakers were Dikgang Publishing Company board member Pako Kedisitse and Chimbidzani Chimidza. Companies, including Debswana and BCL mines sent their condolences to the Mogende family. Other condolences came from Mine Workers of Zambia (MUZ)and National Union of Mine Workers of South Africa.
Mogende joined BMWU in 1995 and was co-opted as a committee member of Selebi-Phikwe branch. In 2006 he was elected vice secretary. In 1997 he ascended to the position of secretary and became the branch chairman in 2000 until the triennial delegates' congress in September 2004 where he was elected the deputy national chairman responsible for 15 BMWU branches.
Immediately after elections, his skills were put to a severe test. He worked with other union members to settle internal conflicts that engulfed the union in 2004. Mogende was dismissed from the mine in 2004 but retained his union post, becoming a full-time office bearer in 2006. He undertook various union missions such as organising workers to join trade unions and form branches, formulation and negotiation of collective labour agreements, relationship building between workers and employers and development of labour laws under the auspices of the BFTU.
He will be remembered for his negotiation skills and firm stand on workers' rights. Mongende is survived by his wife and two children.
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