Mine workers down tools over unpaid salaries

Workers at African Myth Mine in Filabusi, Insiza District, have downed tools in protest over alleged unpaid salaries spanning six months, placing the gold mine under intense scrutiny. The miners said they have continued working under contract despite not being paid, receiving only US$100 last week after a previous demonstration, a gesture they described as "insulting."

The protest highlights growing frustration among the workforce, which has dwindled from over 200 employees to roughly 50 due to unpaid wages and harsh working conditions. Miners claim many colleagues left without receiving their salaries, citing daily risks underground and exploitative work practices as contributing factors.

"We have worked for six months with nothing, and last week they gave us only US$100. How are we supposed to survive?" one worker, who requested anonymity, said. Another described the mine as a harsh environment where safety is inadequate and morale is low.

Despite the demonstration, management has not cleared outstanding payments. Attempts to reach the mine's owner, Aaron Chinhara, also proprietor of Glow Petroleum, were unsuccessful. Executive director Shepard Chivhuna requested questions be submitted via email and later refused to comment, while mine manager Neville Ndlovu claimed he was unaware of any salary arrears since joining in August last year.

The dispute reflects broader challenges in Zimbabwe's mining sector, where delayed wages, poor safety standards, and exploitative contracts are common. Miners say they will not resume work until full salaries are paid, adding pressure on local authorities to enforce labour laws and protect workers' rights.

With operations stalled and the workforce significantly reduced, the situation at African Myth Mine raises urgent questions about accountability, workplace safety, and the enforcement of labour protections in small- and medium-scale mining operations.