adminMidlands Bureau Chief
THE Government is against Mimosa Mining Company’s proposed voluntary retrenchment exercise as it serves the mine’s selfish interests in South Africa, Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Cde Jason Machaya, has said.
Addressing a touring team of Zimbabwe Defence College students and their trainers in Gweru recently, Cde Machaya said Impala Platinum (Implats), Mimosa Mining Company’s Holding Company, was trying to save costs from its profitable Zimbabwe project to sustain its South African companies already paralysed by endless strikes.
“It’s a sad story that Mimosa has plans to shed off its workforce. One would have thought that with the problems their parent company, Implats, is facing in South Africa, they would have taken advantage of the peaceful and conducive environment and upped production in Zimbabwe. I engaged Mimosa management and they gave their reasons but I believe they have the capacity to hold on to their workforce. It’s quite a sad scenario and we are monitoring developments at the giant Zvishavane platinum mine to ensure Mimosa’s actions do not compromise national security through job cuts,” he said.
Cde Machaya said he was expecting to hold a meeting with Mimosa Mining Company’s executive chairman, Mr Winston Chitando, over the matter.
The Midlands’ Minister of Provincial Affairs said Mimosa Mine management should first reveal a package that caters for the retrenched workers’ welfare.
He said the mine’s decision to retrench went parallel to logic as Zimbabwean platinum was in demand owing to the strikes besieging the sector in neighbouring South Africa.
“A one-off payment creates problems. It is a risky arrangement as the money can be lost. We are not happy with the arrangement, especially considering that this is a company that is doing so well. It recently declared a dividend of $12 million. South Africa has its problems with platinum, so naturally, our platinum’s demand should increase,” said Cde Machaya.
He said the Government was not happy with the voluntary retrenchment programme because the company wants to make savings to sustain operations in South Africa.
“They should first arrange for the workers’ welfare and give them houses. We want something that empowers our people through skills development. They should give the retrenched workers contracts after empowering them with skills,” said Cde Machaya.
“We know Mimosa has a lot of contracted companies that assist in its operations. Some of these contracts should be given to the retrenched workers,” he said.
Meanwhile, anxiety and uncertainty continued to grip Mimosa Mining Company workers as retrenchment looms at the Zvishavane-based giant platinum mine.
Workers at the mine told Chronicle that although management communicated the decision to embark on a voluntary retrenchment programme, they were still to unpack the retrenchment package to the would-be targetted individuals.
The mine’s executive chairperson, Mr Chitando revealed in a statement over the weekend that the mining concern was going to retrench 100 workers on a voluntary basis.
Workers, however, felt management was being tight-lipped on a programme that affected their lives.
“The figures are still to be revealed to us. It appears what they agree with the owners of the company is not what they implement. We want management to pronounce the figures. We are expecting to hear the figures this week on either Wednesday or Thursday. What is causing all this anxiety among workers is news that if management fails to get the 100 employees volunteering for retrenchment, they will just pick at random. We understand the exercise will start from management going down to the lowest grade but this is information that has not been properly communicated to us,” said a worker.
The workers further alleged their workers’ committee leadership was to blame as it was failing to properly represent them.
A member of the workers committee, however, dispelled some of the workers’ claims.
The worker’s representative said the retrenchment package was a process that needed time.
“Management will tell us in due course. The retrenchment exercise will be carried out according to grades and one’s number of years of service to the company. Workers are not being sincere in their claims. They are misrepresenting issues. Maybe this is due to the anxiety,” said the worker’s representative.
Online Reporter