News / National
Mawere 'ghost' haunts Zanu-PF
16 Jan 2014 at 05:28hrs | Views
THE "ghost" of former Shabanie Mashaba Mines proprietor and South Africa-based Zimbabwean businessman Mutumwa Mawere has returned to haunt the government after close to 900 workers at Gaths Mine in Mashava downed their tools saying some have not been paid since 2009 when the State expropriated the mines.
The workers said they have been surviving on allowances that range between $30 and $50 for two months, which they last received six months ago.
Howard Chivasa, chairperson of the workers' committee, yesterday confirmed the job action, but said he was in a meeting to find a way forward.
"Workers have been on strike since Tuesday. We last received our allowances long back and we have never known a full salary since 2009," Chivasa said.
War veterans, Zanu-PF and the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation have moved in to quell the strike.
"I cannot give you more details right now as I am in a meeting with members of the president's office and Zanu-PF," Chivasa said.
Efforts to get a comment from the mine manager Zacharia Chapepa were fruitless as his phone was not reachable. His office said he was attending marathon meetings.
Another worker said the impoverished workers had turned to illegal gold panning, drug dealing as well as menial jobs in nearby Masvingo town to make ends meet.
Some women have turned to prostitution while some parents are marrying off their daughters to well-off members of the community in return for food.
"Life has been very hard for us . . . We are now paupers. We do not remember when last we got a full salary. We have resorted to inhuman ways for survival," the worker said.
The workers said they have been surviving on allowances that range between $30 and $50 for two months, which they last received six months ago.
Howard Chivasa, chairperson of the workers' committee, yesterday confirmed the job action, but said he was in a meeting to find a way forward.
"Workers have been on strike since Tuesday. We last received our allowances long back and we have never known a full salary since 2009," Chivasa said.
War veterans, Zanu-PF and the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation have moved in to quell the strike.
"I cannot give you more details right now as I am in a meeting with members of the president's office and Zanu-PF," Chivasa said.
Efforts to get a comment from the mine manager Zacharia Chapepa were fruitless as his phone was not reachable. His office said he was attending marathon meetings.
Another worker said the impoverished workers had turned to illegal gold panning, drug dealing as well as menial jobs in nearby Masvingo town to make ends meet.
Some women have turned to prostitution while some parents are marrying off their daughters to well-off members of the community in return for food.
"Life has been very hard for us . . . We are now paupers. We do not remember when last we got a full salary. We have resorted to inhuman ways for survival," the worker said.
Source - southerneye
