Alaska Mine’s closure a big blow to sport

ALASKA — It is Wednesday mid-morning and we arrive at Alaska Mine’s main terminus, where we are greeted by middle aged women jostling to meet pupils at both Alaska primary and secondary schools break time to sell freezits and maputi.

These are some of the few women left here battling to make ends meet as the majority have travelled to Chinhoyi, about 15km away, where they rely on vending for survival as unemployment surges following the closure of the mine in 2001, plunging the livelihoods of former 254 workers and their dependents into destitution.

The plight of former workers at smelting mines, including Sheckleton and Mhangura, is now an open secret.

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