Mupane Mine appoints new boss

Chakalisa Dube | Thursday January 16, 2014 16:58

 

'Our advertisement for the general manager position unfortunately did not attract any suitably qualified and well experienced local candidate. 'We have since offered this position to Wayne Hatton-Jones. Wayne is a South African and has a wealth of experience in gold mining at general manager level in numerous countries.

'He is also a qualified metallurgist and has 28 years' experience in gold mining,' Brodie said.

He stated that the company has employed a local as mining manager to eventually take over from Hatton-Jones. He defended the hiring of foreigners to high positions in the company citing lack of skills and experience.

Mmegi Business has learnt that Hatton-Jones began work at Mupane Gold Mine on November 17 last year.

Prior to his arrival, the company was managed by a consultant after the departure of Lawrence Manjengwa for greener pastures mid last year. Hatton-Jones has years of experience working in South Africa, West Africa and Tajikistan. At one point, he served as acting general manager of Avocet Mining Plc. Avocet is a focused West African gold mining and exploration company with primary operations in Burkina Faso and Guinea. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Oslo Børs.

Hatton-Jones has served as general manager of Ergo gold surface operation at DRD Gold in South Africa. He served as process manager and acting general manager of Randgold Resources, a gold mining business with operations mainly in Mali. Like all expatriates at Mupane Mine, Hatton-Jones contract is for two years. Extensions will depend on the competencies of the understudy to fill the position.

Mupane is a subsidiary of Galane Gold Limited and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company has attracted criticism in Botswana in recent years for preferring foreigners in high positions.