Unki housing storm

Midlands Bureau
Anglo-American platinum company, Unki Mine, has allegedly suspended operations at its Impali Farm housing project in Shurugwi after failing to reach an agreement with three local construction companies sub-contracted to build 940 houses. The three companies, Citizen, Bambanani JV and Selbridge, were failing to reach an agreement with Unki Mines over allegedly “exploitative” contracts that the companies said were uneconomic.

It is reported that Unki on Tuesday last week gave the three companies a 24-hour ultimatum to sign the contracts or risk having them terminated.

The suspension of operations has put more than 700 jobs at risk.

A director of Bambanani JV, a Mr Chiwara confirmed that the three subcontracted companies had suspended operations at the Impali Farm construction site. He said the companies were still trying to engage the platinum mine to resolve the matter amicably.

“I can confirm that at the moment we have suspended operations at Impali Farm in Shurugwi. However, we are engaging Unki Mines so that the matter can be resolved amicably. I cannot give further details because we do not want to blow the matter out of proportion,” said Mr Chiwara.