Source: The Voice Online (Botswana).
Employees of Sinohydro, a Chinese company, contracted to build the multi-million Pula dam at Dikgatlhong have warned that it is only a matter of time before government realizes that all is not well at the construction site.
The employees said what worried them the most was the fact that most engineers and key positions were occupied by Chinese nationals who seem to know little about their job. Furthermore, the employees alleged that most of the Chinese guys barely understand a single word of English, which results in poor communication between the management and other workers.
Employees feared that with the unskilled Chinese holding key positions which need accountability, the safety and the life of workers at the project have been subjected to great danger.
“Instead of having a crew of qualified Safety, Fire and First Aid officers, the company only has one person who operates under the control of a Chinese superior. This superior is very ignorant about his job,” a concerned employee who preferred anonymity told The Voice newspaper adding that although hundreds of skilled Batswana from tertiary colleges were roaming the streets, Sinohydro seems to care less. The man said if at all they would take local graduates, they would rather give them general duty jobs and they would sign a one-month contract which is renewed every month. Another thing the employee alleged is that the workers are not insured despite the many risks associated with their work.
Another employee alleged that locals who are lucky to occupy high positions are deputies to the Chinese nationals.
“Even at the pump station you will find that the supervisor is Chinese.” He questioned whether it was fair for a Chinese national to be brought into the country only to become a petrol attendant.
The concerned worker also revealed that employees were forced to operate machines which are not serviced also posing a great danger to workers on site and the operator. However, Dikgatlhong Dam Project Manager, Jing Jinke has rubbished the recent allegations adding that the workers who gave the information were just being a nuisance.
As for employing foreigners for most top position, Jinke said his company tried by all means to find qualified local employees and to their disappointment, very few people satisfied the progress of the project. He dismissed fears that the dam was a time bomb, revealing that the Dam construction was the biggest project in the country, which needs experienced engineers, to execute and supervise the work, to ensure its contractual time frame and quality.
“If the locals were qualified enough to build such a dam, for what reason is government of Botswana inviting international contractors. As an experienced international contractor, SinoHydro has always taken the safety as the top important issue since the beginning of the project itself,” Jinke said adding that a crew of 18 employees including Chinese and locals had been trained on fire fighting and first aid by the Fire brigade from Selebi Phikwe after which they were distributed to different sections of the construction site.