"The people are suffering from fatigue. They are understaffed and overworked. So far, two are reported to have died at the weekend," said Jack Thlagale, spokesman for the 6,000-strong Botswana Mine Workers Union.
"The rate of accidents has gone up, and in addition to the dead, two more people were hospitalised after sustaining accidents while on duty in Jwaneng Mine," said Thlagale, referring to the mine that is widely considered the jewel in Botswana's diamond crown. "Just go to the mines and see for yourself. Interview the workers and they will tell you the sorry state of the situation."
Thousands of workers in four mines run by Debswana - an equal joint venture between the government and South Africa's De Beers group - went on strike a week ago, defying a court order declaring the work stoppage illegal in Botswana.
Botswana is the world's largest producer of uncut diamonds, with production in 2003 reaching a record 30.4 million carats, which amounted to 69 percent of the total De Beers output.
The union is pressing for a 16 percent salary increase and a 25 percent annual bonus but Debswana is only offering a 10 percent wage increase and a once-off 10 percent annual bonus.
Thlagale attributed the rise in accidents to the fact that Debswana was roping in unskilled workers to keep the mines running.
"The people who are driving quarry trucks, some of them are not trained to do that," he said.
Thlagale said some 400 mine workers had been fired since the strike was launched on August 23. The union leaders meanwhile are to return to court on September 2 to face charges of contempt of court.
Debswana spokesman Jacob Sesinyi denied the strikers' assertion that production had been seriously hampered and dismissed the claim that two miners had died of overwork. "If an off-duty employee dies of natural causes, it has nothing to do with the ongoing illegal strike. Overwork had nothing to do with the dead," he said.
He claimed that the country's biggest mine Orapa was working normally and said he would take journalists there later Monday so they could see the situation for themselves.