Hundreds of former Mupane Gold Mine workers moved a step closer to recovering unpaid salaries and benefits after the Court of Appeal cleared the way for the sale of the mine’s assets, overturning a High Court ruling that had temporarily halted the transaction.
The Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) welcomed the decision, saying it restores momentum to a process that could unlock payments to workers and other creditors following the mine’s closure and subsequent liquidation.
BMWU president Joseph Tsimako said the ruling was a significant breakthrough for more than 500 former employees, including workers retained during the mine’s care-and-maintenance phase after operations were suspended in 2024.
‘This is a positive development because the mine has been under care and maintenance for a long time, and the prospective buyer had already indicated a willingness to settle obligations owed to creditors and former miners,’ Tsimako said.
The proposed sale would see Nova Africa Joint Venture acquire the mine’s assets for P21.5 million. According to the union, the transaction would allow the liquidator to continue efforts to conclude the sale process and begin addressing outstanding claims.
Tsimako said the union initially pushed for liquidation after workers went for months without pay while the mine remained non-operational. He argued that the legal dispute that followed only prolonged uncertainty for employees already facing severe financial hardship.
Many former workers are still servicing loans and supporting families despite having gone without salaries for extended periods, he said.
The dispute arose after the High Court granted an interim interdict blocking the sale following legal action involving liquidator Kopanang Thekiso and Nova Africa Resources, trading as Aone Commodities DMCC Joint Venture.
Creditors are collectively owed more than P345 million, including approximately P49 million owed to workers represented by BMWU.
The union said it will now engage both the liquidator and the prospective buyer to establish timelines for settling outstanding payments and bringing closure to one of Botswana’s most closely watched mining insolvencies.