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Lynnia Ndlovu Sunday News Reporter
WIVES of Vumbachikwe miners in Gwanda on Friday besieged the management offices at the mine demanding salaries of their husbands which were reportedly last paid in full in January 2015. They were also demanding the sacking of the management in favour of the previous one which they said had employees’ welfare at heart. More than 50 women demonstrated at the gates leading to the offices of the human resources manager, Mr Celestine Mhere, at about 7am and only dispersed five hours later.
Mr Mhere, who was in his office, did not come out as the women lay in siege. The women were shouting that once he comes out they were going to kill him. Some of the women were lifting their skirts exposing their torn undergarments which they said were as a result of the suffering they have endured at the hands of the management.
Anti-riot police were also present at the scene, maintaining an eagle’s eye on the demonstrators to prevent the situation from getting out of hand.
Another woman identified as MaNcube claimed that non-payment of their husband’s salaries was destroying their families.
“All this has led to the destruction of our love that we had as families. Our husbands go to work with empty bellies and so do our children to school. When they come back from work they no longer offer us the love that we used to enjoy,” said MaNcube in tears.
Some of the women fainted during the protest and had to be resuscitated by their colleagues. Vumbachikwe was a no go area for the better part of the morning as the women blocked any vehicles coming to the mine with business grounding to a halt.
The women only dispersed after the police advised them that they risked arrest as their demonstration had not been sanctioned.
Some miners who were present at the scene, although not part of the demonstrating women, demanded their money from the management.
The mine’s workers representative, who identified himself as Mr Makura, alleged that the company is not treating them well.
“We are not getting paid at this mine, we last heard of bonuses in 2013 and up to today, miners go underground with torn overalls and gumboots and the company is not taking any action towards that,” said Mr Makura.
No comment could be drawn from the management as Mr Mhere instructed his subordinate to advise the media that he was not prepared to comment on the issue. Vumbachikwe Mine is located about 20 kilometres out of Gwanda town.
derick.khumalo