Mazowe Mining Company: A Legacy In Decline, Allegations That Demand Answers

Despite numerous attempts to gain clarity, Mazowe Mining’s leadership and former executives have reportedly avoided engaging with stakeholders, fueling speculation and suspicion.

Unpaid Workers and Broken Promises

Mazowe Mining’s workforce has borne the brunt of the crisis, with allegations of unpaid wages and a lack of accountability driving their frustrations.

Reports suggest that the company owes over US$22 million in salary arrears—US$18 million from a first corporate rescue application and an additional US$4 million from a second.

Despite these significant debts and the mine’s continued operations, only a small number of workers, allegedly fewer than 10, have reportedly received retrenchment bonuses.

Many others remain uncertain of their employment status, having only received retrenchment notices without formal letters.

Questions have been raised regarding the retrenchment process, specifically how Mazowe allegedly proceeded without the oversight of regulatory authorities such as ZIMRA, NASSA, NEC, or the Mining Pension Fund.

Allegations suggest that the company bypassed necessary approvals, such as securing the involvement of the Master of the High Court, despite being under corporate rescue proceedings.

Many workers, some supporting entire families, have faced financial ruin. Since 2016, they have reportedly received either partial salaries or none at all, while the company remains silent.

The critical questions are: Why has Mazowe Mining allegedly failed to prioritize paying its workers? What is the company’s plan, if any, to resolve the wage arrears?

Shadowy Management Structure

There are further allegations regarding uncertainty about who is actually in charge at Mazowe Mining. Reports suggest that figures such as Hapson Makotore, a former Company Secretary, have allegedly reinserted themselves into leadership roles without legal mandate or board approval.

This alleged lack of transparency has raised concerns over the legitimacy of the company’s operations and decision-making processes.

Workers have called on Mazowe Mining to provide audited financial records detailing its funds and production figures and to make these accessible on public notice boards.

Who are the legitimate decision-makers at Mazowe Mining, and do they have legal authority to manage the company?

Financial Mismanagement and Alleged Missing Gold

Another serious allegation concerns Mazowe Mining’s financial management. Insiders have claimed that multiple sets of financial records were allegedly created to hide money being siphoned off.

Furthermore, there are reports suggesting that bribes were paid to silence those raising concerns. These allegations cast doubt on the financial integrity of the company.

Questions have also been raised about Mazowe Mining’s production figures. Some allegations suggest that some of the gold produced since 2022 has not been declared to the Ministry of Mines.

Discrepancies between internal reports and those submitted to authorities have fueled suspicions of gold smuggling and financial fraud.

Where is the allegedly missing gold, and why do Mazowe Mining’s internal production reports differ from those submitted to the authorities? Could this be part of a larger scheme to defraud stakeholders?

The Corporate Rescue That Never Was

Workers had placed their hopes in the corporate rescue process, but those hopes were reportedly dashed due to legal hurdles and alleged manipulation.

Some insiders believe that Mazowe Mining’s leadership has deliberately stalled the rescue process to maintain control and avoid accountability.

Why has the corporate rescue process allegedly been obstructed, and what influence does Mazowe Mining have over the judiciary?

A $68 Million Debt Crisis

By 2018, Mazowe Mining’s debt had reportedly ballooned to $68 million, owed to various creditors. Despite these significant obligations, there are allegations that the company has made little effort to settle its debts, choosing instead to continue operations and accrue more debt, leaving creditors and workers in limbo.

What is Mazowe Mining’s strategy for resolving this financial crisis? Is there a viable plan to repay debts, or is the company on borrowed time?

Silence from Key Players: Gilbert Gwavava’s Role

One of the more perplexing aspects of this saga is the silence of former Human Resources Manager, Gilbert Gwavava.

Once vocal about the company’s financial distress, Gwavava reportedly withdrew his affidavit and has since refused to answer questions about his role. 

Several pressing questions remain unanswered: Did Gwavava receive US$40,000 to change his position on Mazowe Mining’s financial situation? Why did he claim to have firsthand knowledge of the company’s distress in his original affidavit, only to later withdraw those claims?

Despite these critical questions, Gwavava has remained silent, raising doubts about his involvement in the crisis.

A Rotten Core

Mazowe Mining’s once-respected legacy has allegedly been tarnished by allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement, and worker exploitation.

The company’s refusal to address these serious accusations and its avoidance of accountability suggests deeper systemic issues. Workers, creditors, and other stakeholders continue to suffer while those in power allegedly remain unresponsive.

The mounting allegations raise one key question: How long can this situation persist before the truth comes to light and Mazowe Mining faces full accountability?

For now, Mazowe Mining remains a company cloaked in secrecy, but the unanswered questions continue to build pressure. Whether these allegations will lead to any legal consequences or resolution remains to be seen.

This story was contributed by Hillary Munedzi.

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