adminResponding to questions from journalists during a media tour of Mimosa Mine in Zvishavane on Friday, the platinum mine’s managing director, Mr Winston Chitando, expressed hope that the unrest in South Africa’s mining industry would be resolved soon through dialogue and the wave would not spread to Zimbabwe.
Mr Chitando was also asked to comment on his job security following the resignation of Aquarius Platinum (Ltd) chief executive Officer Mr Stuart Murray last week.
Mimosa Mining Company is partly owned by the South African Aquarius Platinum (Ltd) and had some of its platinum mines hit by violent strikes, which saw 34 miners at a platinum mine in Marikana being killed by the South African police.
“My job is not at any risk and there is no reason to resign. In the mining sector we strongly believe dialogue is the best solution to iron out differences between the employer and the employee.
“We are hopeful and confident that the unrest affecting the mining sector in South Africa will be solved soon through dialogue,” said Mr Chitando when he was asked if he was prepared to follow Mr Murray’s footsteps.
Mr Chitando said Mimosa Mining Company was working well with its workers and has been coming up with different projects that include housing schemes for the employees.
He said the platinum mine has also put in place workers’ retention strategies so as to retain its skilled workforce.
“We believe negotiations between employees and the employer are an ongoing process and at Mimosa we conduct our duties in a transparent manner. This media tour is in itself a very important event on our calendar every year so that the media fraternity knows how the company operates,” he said.
Mr Chitando said Mimosa has so far built 1 838 houses for the workers and was still in the process of building 200 more.
Mimosa Mining Company has more than 2 000 workers.
Mr Chitando said the company was also working very well with the community and has come up with a number of community projects within and outside Zvishavane as part of its social responsibility.
“Apart from the various community projects, Mimosa has been extending its social responsibility hand into other cities and towns outside Zvishavane. For instance, Mimosa is refurbishing some hostels at Harare Hospital,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Chitando said Mimosa Mine was in the final stages of its expansion feasibility study, which will see the company improving its production.
He said the company was, however, continuing to improve its production, which increased to 20 400 ounces of platinum this year from last year’s 20 200.
Online Reporter