BRILLIANT MUKARO
MASVINGO RURAL-Conditions of service at RioZim owned Renco Mine in Masvingo District have deteriorated and they are now unbearable for the workers as they can go for two months without being paid.
This was said by the firebrand Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZIDAWU) secretary general Justice Chinhema.
Arguably the biggest gold mine in Masvingo Province Renco produces around about 80kgs of gold per month according to some senior employees and mine workers who spoke to The Midweek Watch on condition of anonymity.
Efforts to get a comment from Renco Mine manager identified as Nyamukondiwa were fruitless as his mobile was not reachable.
Chinhema however told The Midweek Watch that his organisation is worried about Renco Mine’s management which seems to be enmeshed in chaos as it is frequently changing managers making it difficult for the company to have consistency.
He said the more than 2000 workers are earning the agreed minimum of US$355 which is being paid 65% in local currency and the remaining 35% is paid in USD.
Chinhema said what is worrying about Renco is that the money does not come in time and as of now the workers are yet to receive their April salaries and are seeking to have a meeting with the management of the company to iron out the issues.
“The whole mining industry is crying foul as the workers are not being well paid, in the case of Renco the management is disorganised and we are looking forward to having a meeting with them. They are paid the agreed minimum of US$355, however the money is paid late when it had already lost buying power,” said Chinhema.
A worker at Renco Mine told The Midweek Watch on condition of anonymity that the situation at the Mine is tense and is getting worse by each day as workers are not being paid promptly.
He said the company is illtreating workers and the living and working conditions are deteriorating everyday.
He said he wishes government could intervene like it did with Bikita Minerals where the mine was closed until the workers’ grievances were addressed.
“We are being abused, our children are not going to school due to poor remuneration leading to high rate of theft in the compound and the surrounding villages. We wish government intervenes like it did in the case of Bikita Minerals,” said the worker.
He said all workers at the Mine are longing to a day when they will be paid in time and be able to fend for their children like during the olden days when it an envy to work for the miner.
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate for Masvingo South, Knowledge Mabvuure also bemoaned the situation saying the Mine is practising unfair labour practices.
He said the company is which used to be the employer of choice in Masvingo Rural is now illtreating workers and they have lost respect in the community.
Mabvuure promised to get the situation rectified once he gets into office after August 23 elections.
“We implore and encourage the management to shun unfair labour practice in the form of late and under payment of wages and salaries. We implore the company to consider employees as an asset.
“As a labour sensitive movement we promise to get to the bottom of the issue and have the situation redressed once we get elected and will not be afraid to proceed with collective job action in terms of the labour Act for the betterment of the workers,” said Mabvuure.
Renco Mine workers went on strike in May last citing poor working conditions as well as failure to pay the 13th cheque as promised in the CBA.
