Diversified mining group RioZim Limited has reportedly failed to pay retrenchment packages to 191 workers whose contracts it terminated at short notice last month.
Solidarity Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (SOMWUZ) secretary-general Prince Mpala told NewsDay that RioZim was treating its workers “as slaves”. Said Mpala:
The miners are being treated as slaves and we as a trade union are pushing to help them.
A few months ago we were happy to hear that President Emmerson Mnangagwa went to commission a BIOX plant at Cam and Motor Mine, but we are perplexed to see that they are failing to pay their workers.
The workers are in a tight situation because some of them had to settle debts, loans and rentals.
We have tried to meet the management and show them what was taking place.
They said that they had no authority to explain why the workers were not being paid.
One of the affected workers, who requested anonymity, said that they had not received their packages since July. Said the former employee:
We were contract workers and were retrenched in July on short notice but we were supposed to be given a two-week notice. So, our packages have not been paid since July.
Our representatives were supposed to meet with the management, who refused to meet with them.
RioZim spokesperson Wilson Gwatiringa refused to comment on the matter.
More: NewsDay