JUSTICE Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has been petitioned over the eviction of the former workers from the Shabanie Mashaba Mine compound.
In a letter dated October 4 addressed to Ziyambi, Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union general secretary Justice Chinhema asked the government to intervene and assist the stranded former workers.
“As we write to you there is massive eviction taking place in Mashava and Zvishavane of former workers by management of the mine together with mostly the universities, who claim to have bought the houses,” Chinhema wrote.
“This is again what we agreed in 2020 in Zvishavane where you said “No employee or former employee should be evicted” until further notice.
“We have no other notice from you changing this position because it was a correct position from you minister and government, protecting those former workers.”
Chinhema said the former mine workers were owed thousands of dollars in outstanding salaries and allowances.
“All the former workers have not yet received their terminal benefits and salary arrears that accrued after the letters of acknowledgement or official termination of work contracts in terms of the law,” he said.
“There is no communication on the status of workers who were sent on unpaid leave, forced leave or retirement.”
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Chinhema asked the minister to order an investigation, and audit of books including assets at the mine and make the outcome public.
He said the minister was yet to respond to the letter.
Chinhema said the latest request was a follow up to their letter dated January 29, 2024 where they sought the removal of the administrator of SMM, Arafas Mtausi Gwaradzimba.
“To date we still believe Gwaradzimba must be removed from the position of administrator of SMM Holdings,” he wrote.
“Further to our application in 2021, which remains outstanding and the letter dated January 29 2024, we seek your intervention in the current situation on the ground.”
Chinhema highlighted that Gwaradzimba and the management have sold most of the mine assets to various organisations.
“The state of affairs now points to a complete change of activities, with no more hope of reviving mining operations that majority of people expected in the name of SMM or any of its subsidiaries as an on-going concern,” Chinhema wrote.
Shabanie-Mashava Mines was once owned by businessman Mutumwa Mawere before it was placed under curatorship.
It was later taken over by the government following claims that Mawere had externalised foreign currency.
The operation was Zimbabwe’s sole producer of asbestos and employed thousands of workers that were thrown on the streets after the government’s controversial takeover.
