Botswana's leading mines unite to showcase safety excellence at BCM Inter-mine First Aid Competition

Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) has once again demonstrated its commitment to safety excellence by clinching third place at the recently held Botswana Chamber of Mines (BCM) Inter-Mine First Aid Competition at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST).

The annual competition brought together Botswana’s top mining operations, including Debswana, Khoemacau, Lucara, and Botash, alongside Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) and BIUST. Botswana Oil and Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTC Botswana) attended as observers, further underscoring the growing collaboration between key industry players in promoting safety and emergency preparedness.

In his welcome remarks, BCM Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Charles Siwawa, highlighted that the competition was “not just about lifting a trophy, but about participation for a greater cause, safety.” He thanked the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund for sponsoring the prizes and reiterated the mining sector’s legal obligation for at least 33% of employees to hold first aid certification. “The goal is to see these skills spread beyond our operations to a national level,” he added.

Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Sedireng Serumola, Managing Director of Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB), urged participants to make “working safely a keystone habit,” noting that a strong safety culture enhances productivity and drives sustainable growth. He commended BCM for contributing to a safer mining environment, with the Total Recordable Injury Frequency Index (TRIFI) improving from 2.5 to nearly zero.

Speaking on behalf of the MVA Fund, Mr. Mompati Bontsibokae, Senior Manager for Injury Prevention, praised the competition as a powerful platform for knowledge exchange and lifesaving skill development. “For MVA, this is a learning exchange to build a safer Botswana on and off the roads. Every demonstration of skill today is an embodiment of a life saved,” he said.

This year’s competition featured thirteen teams, reflecting Botswana’s unified approach to workplace safety. Teams were assessed on their ability to respond to real-life emergency scenarios with accuracy, speed, and composure.

Morupule Coal Mine’s team delivered an outstanding performance, impressing judges with their swift, precise, and well-coordinated emergency response. Their efforts earned them a third-place finish, a testament to MCM’s continuous investment in safety training, employee empowerment, and climate resilience.

Their achievement underscores MCM’s proactive approach to addressing emerging workplace challenges, including extreme heat, unpredictable weather, and other climate-related risks. By prioritising first aid skills and emergency preparedness, Morupule Coal Mine continues to set the benchmark for safety leadership within Botswana’s mining sector.

Debswana’s Jwaneng Mine emerged as the overall champion, while Lucara took second place after narrowly missing the opportunity to defend their previous title.

Morupule Coal Mine’s success at the BCM Inter-Mine First Aid Competition reaffirms its dedication to protecting lives, fostering a strong safety culture, and driving sustainable mining excellence in Botswana.