MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Leading ferro-chrome mining company based in Gweru, has been accused of labour malpractice and concealing lethal accidents that have been occurring regularly at its plant.
Recently, Jinyi Enterprise Pvt Ltd has been at loggerheads with its internal security personnel after the finance manager announced pay cuts for the department.
According to credible sources, the internal rifts have reduced the morale of employees, with some opting to resign.
The workers committee is insisting that the security personnel should work 210 hours per calendar month, and anything above that should be calculated as overtime.
But Jinyi human resources manager, Nyasha Nherera argued that the finance manager was given the green light by ferro-alloy employment council and labour ministry to streamline security personnel’s working time to 242 hours per month.
According to the labor standards, the security personnel work 12 hours per day, 4 days per week, with 3 days off duty.
It was also alleged that since April 2024, the new management has been unilaterally rescinding previous management decisions.
Amongst the slew of allegations, includes the history of violating health and safety protocols, resulting in a surge in lethal accidents and employee deaths, which was never disputed by company when asked to respond.
The firm reportedly does not compensate injured employees, The Midweek Watch was reliably informed.
This is despite the fact that some of the workers might have permanent injuries that could affect their ability to find new employment.
This is not the first time Jinyi has been plagued by dangerous accidents and worker discontent.
Earlier this year, the company reportedly concealed a furnace blast that severely injured four employees, with two having their legs fractured and others suffering severe burns.
Sadly, one female employee reportedly inhaled gases and has been having difficulties in breathing since then.
According to Anthony Nyashanu, president of the National Union of Metal and Allied Industries in Zimbabwe (NUMAIZ), “The company ignored health advice from a local hospital to transfer some severely injured employees to Bulawayo hospitals for further examination and treatment.”
Investigations also revealed that the furnace explosions are largely caused by high fine content in the furnace, which chokes the furnace and leads to eruptions.
In addition, it was also alleged that the company does not carry out risk assessments before employees resume work at the furnace plant.
Furthermore, reports suggest that no feed screen analysis is being conducted to determine the particle size distribution of raw materials.
The source added that the company is feeding the furnace with over 60% fine content, which chokes the furnace and leads to eruptions.
“Feeding high fine content into the furnace chokes it leading to blasts,” remarked Nyashanu.
In April 2022, truck driver Chesiya Mdala was found floating in a hot cooling pond in a mysterious accident that sent shock waves at the company and local residents.
It was alleged that the pond was not secured, and the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) inspectorate had to order the company to barricade the cooling tower for the safety of employees.
When quizzed about alleged malpractice and incidents, Nherera referred all questions to the general manager, Jessica, who had not responded by the time of publication despite receiving messages forwarded to her.
Calls for Investigations and Compliance
Last year, a local media organization that support investigative journalism, Information Development Trust (IDT) revealed that the Chinese owned firms were not in compliance with national laws and policy frameworks.
With the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) early this year, wrote to the labour ministry to investigate labour violations by Chinese-owned companies in the mining industry, including allegations of sexual harassment and underpayment.
Deputy secretary-general for Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Kudakwashe Munengiwa also said the labour union has been raising these issues of unsafe working conditions with the labour minister at the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF), and they had agreed that the unions and ministry should carry out inspections together.
Lack of meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility
Unlike other companies in the Midlands province, such as Unki, Mimosa, and Chengetai Chenxi Investments, just to name a few which have taken robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, Jinyi’s plans on giving back to the community remain shrouded in mystery.
Social justice think tank, Zimbabwe Coalition for Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) cluster chairperson, Cornilia Selipiwe, stated that the Gweru Chinese-owned company has not done any meaningful contribution in terms of ploughing back to the community despite the extensive damage to the road infrastructure caused by their heavy trucks.
“These Chinese companies are driven by profit and neglect corporate social responsibility. They need explicit policies that prioritize CSR. We should be seeing partnerships between local authorities and Chinese investors, which would improve service provision in the city. Similarly, the local authority must establish a policy framework that mandates these companies to give back to the community,” added Selipiwe.
Gweru Mayor, Councilor Martin Chivhoko, added his voice stating that the council is “engaging all Chinese investors in our city to contribute to road rehabilitation efforts.”
Provincial Affairs Minister, Owen Ncube has been on record encouraging companies to give back to the community as the country gravitate towards the attainment of the upper middle income society earlier than 2030.
