Zimbabwe Diamonds Miners Workers’ Union (ZDMWU) is pressing for yet another round table meeting with judiciary management running the affairs of Eldorado Mine after they renegaded from their promise to pay workers outstanding salaries.
By Nhau Mangirazi
Eldorado Mine workers have not been paid for the past four months while management is also failing to provide protective clothing for the 170 employees, despite judiciary managers Jonathan Samukange and Witness Chinyama last month promising to address the workers concerns.
Disgruntled workers have already written to Chinhoyi labour officer giving a 14-day notice to embark on a job action if the judicial managers fail to fulfil their promise.
“They promised to pay workers about 60% of outstanding salary and nothing has been done. We do not know where the money is going and who is enjoying the proceeds of gold sales,” ZDMWU secretary-general Justice Chinhema said last week.
When NewsDay visited the mine situated about 8km out of Chinhoyi where workers gave hallowing experiences of their poor working conditions they have been subjected to for the past two years.
Mine general manager only identified as Phiri refused to comment on allegations raised by workers referring us to his principals, Samukange and Chinyama.
However, Samukange promised that they will attend to some issues raised.
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“There is no need for us to involve labour officers as we are all workers trying to work out things for the benefit of everyone here. As judiciary managers, we are working hard to have everything in place and we will work hard that salaries are paid on time if production rises,” Samukange told the workers.
But the workers are not happy and morale is low.
“Our management is not transparent on how much gold has been sold to Fidelity unlike the previous management. We never faced such challenges before with Chinese investors. Workers are going underground without safety and protective clothing as required by the law,” workers’ committee chairman Previous Sibanda said.
Another worker, Nyarai Chasara, said there was no running water and they are forced to use one Blair toilet.
Hlangano Jenami, an underground operator at the mine blamed management for failing to meet community leadership and assist in developing the area as promised.
“We have been waiting that after production of gold, management should have met traditional leaders, including Chief Chidziva, and help as part of their social responsibility by grading roads, building schools, so that the community could benefit from the mine’s operations. The management and those in acting capacity are not forthcoming at all,” Jenami said.
