ZIMBABWE Diamond and Allies Minerals Workers Union (ZIDAMWU) general secretary Justice Chinhema has urged mine operators to pay decent wages to enable employees to build their own houses instead of staying in substandard compounds.
Chinhema made the call during a Press briefing on Wednesday, ahead of the union's congress that started today in Bulawayo.
He threatened to name and shame foreign miners who are only interested in exploiting the country’s mineral resources without benefiting local communities.
“As mine workers we want the investors and government to recognize us as major stakeholders so that our resources are not looted by foreigners at our expense. We will be holding a conference from 29 to 31 of this month to address mine workers' challenges and the development of Zimbabwe through mining,’’ said Chinhema.
According to Chinhema, ZIDAMWU has successfully blocked the planned eviction of former miner workers at Shabanie Mashava Mines demanding that they be given their retrenchment packages first.
“We are working to improve the life of miners and local communities to be developed for their benefit as we have witnessed that the colonial policy used by investors have left them suffering as they have been earning peanuts," said Chinhema.
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Meanwhile, he urged the government to desist from viewing the workers union organisation as political parties but engage them for the benefit of the workers.