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Midlands Correspondent
MORE than 100 former Shabanie mine workers who were recently issued with eviction orders to vacate the company houses have engaged a Zvishavane lawyer, Mr Tichaona Chivasa to contest the move. Most former workers of the mine who either resigned or retired from remained at the mine premises, arguing that the company owed them money in outstanding salaries.
The mine, however, sent letters of demand and eviction orders last month demanding up to $15 000 in rentals from some of the former workers for the period they occupied the company houses.
The workers were given 10 days to respond to the mine’s demands.
In separate interviews yesterday, the former workers said they have since engaged Mr Chivasa to represent them in the matter.
“We approached a local lawyer, Mr Chivasa, to try and fight our case.
“Our argument is that the company has not paid us our outstanding salaries and we should hold on to company property until such a time when it pays us in full,” said one of the former workers, Mr Adam Phiri.
Another former worker, Mr Alpha Banda who resigned from the company in 2010 said the mine was still to pay him his exit package, three years after leaving the company.
“When the company started facing operational challenges, I decided to resign. However, I got nothing as part of my benefits. This is why we have decided to engage a lawyer to fight our cause,” he said.
Mr Chivasa confirmed the development and said he was assisting some of the company‘s ex-workers for free.
“I have been approached by hundreds of people who are former Shabanie Mine employees after they received eviction orders and letters of demand from their former employer.
“I am representing the majority of them for free after noticing their plight,” he said.
Mr Chivasa said he has since written to the mine and tendered a proposal that the company should deduct part of the demands from the money they owe each of the affected former workers.
“I have not received an official communication from the company in accordance to my proposal but I’m surprised that some employees received letters from the company today (yesterday).
“In the said letters, the company is arguing that it has since deducted rentals from the amount it owes each of the former employees. The mine is arguing that the ex-employees are still in arrears after the deductions were effected.
“It is insisting that the workers should vacate the mine premises,” he said.
Mr Chivasa said he will submit papers to defend the former workers in court.
Shabanie and Mashaba Mines (SMM) Holdings, administrator, Mr Afarass Gwarazimba could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Online Reporter