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“The new investor has indicated to us that they will discuss the future of the company and outstanding salaries payment plan in due course. You can contact the administrator or ZMDC chairman, Mr Masimirembwa for further details,” he said.
Mr Masimirembwa’s mobile phone went unanswered when this reporter called him.
The ZMDC chairperson had earlier announced that the workers were to be paid a lump sum three-month salary.
Meanwhile, the Shabanie Mine workers expressed mixed feelings following the payment of salaries.
In interviews, the workers said while the gesture from their employer gave them hope, they felt the company could have done more.
The workers said one month’s salary was too little considering the outstanding amounts.
“For the first time since the dollarisation of the economy, our company has shown some commitment by paying us this December salary. We however feel it could have paid us at least the three months lump sum it had initially promised,” said Mr Joseph Nhidza from Maglas compound.
Another female employee who declined to be named said the company had failed to live up to its promise of paying them a lump sum of three months’ salary.
“When we heard about the new investor, we were told we were going to be paid a lump sum three months salary in November. It, however, came as a disappointment when we got only a one month’s salary. Some of us only got as little as $160 and this cannot take us anywhere considering that we have not been paid for years,” she said.
Sources at the giant asbestos company said the least paid worker received $160 while those in higher grades got amounts in the region of $3 000.
Shabanie Mine alone had a workforce of more than 3 500 employees before production was suspended in 2010.
Online Reporter