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Ngonidzashe Nyamande
THE protests by the Vubachikwe Mine employees earlier this month derailed not only the obvious infrastructure and premises but also the dream of the Vubachikwe FC team to reach the Premier Soccer League as prospects of continued funding have all but dimmed.
Vubachikwe FC was on the verge of reaching the premier league, with applaudable performances that saw them rise to Division One where they are making a name for themselves.
The sprouting talent was starting to see sunshine, the little birds at home already opening their mouths to receive the meal of achievement, the hopes of light at the end of the tunnel-all chagrined if not smothered, by the disturbances. All this bleakness was caused by the actions of a selfish lot that pursued their own badly thought-out interests.
The narrow vision sees no tomorrow, the narrow vision could not imagine the sheer possible scale of the consequences.
South of Matabeleland sits a mine that has been one of the top gold pits that feed the national economy and most importantly the cake holes of the community inhabitants, employing over a thousand people in the Vumba Village community.
On a day that was calm and promising with some rains from the heavens, the Vubachikwe Mine employees saw their pride taking them off their beds to the protest mode that had some of them, assisted by illegal miners and supposed spouses, vandalise and destroy mine equipment, mine premises, assets, and went overboard to destroy the school bus that ferries pupils to school.
As if that was not enough damage, they went on to destroy the mine clinic and the ambulance, all these which were a benefit not just to the mine but to a greater part of the community.
These uprisings were caused by the backlash in payment of wages and salaries by the mine to the employees.
The effects of the protests do not only affect the mine operations but a greater arc of the community.
Talent was starting to be realised in sport as the mine football team was starting to prepare for the Division One season which was going to see them in the premier league provided they did even better in the coming season, which was most likely looking at the statistics from their previous leagues and games.
However, the hand of the devil is now crushing all the dreams as the mine has closed operations with effect from November 17 in a move to rebuild and regain the demolished.
The football club was sponsored by the mine and as such their games and training are also put on hold until the operations are back to normal whenever that will be or if at all the books will recover enough to see the team being supported.
“It is sad because when people go on a rampage, very few have the ability to think of the ramifications and that the effect will be felt by a lot of other players in the community, some of whom will have had nothing to do with the madness,” said mine spokesperson Robert Mukondiwa.
“At this rate, there was a lot of progress convincing the shareholders to start adding more funding to the social scene, mostly football but also our courageous snooker team and darts club. Yet these protests went violent. You cannot surely still go and ask for this big budget which we were close to securing after such carnage,” he added.
The fact that there are reports of some senior members of these outfits even ferrying rogue protestors in their personal vehicles to destroy property makes the case all the more difficult to fathom as are youthful participants themselves part of the soccer team that could have become stars in football in the near future.
The hope seems uncertain for the team as the resumption is indefinite.
“Nobody is as pained as me and the communications cluster as we had an active mandate to ensure the growth of the community budget to fund sport, arts and culture. Our hope was to secure funds for a football kit, darts and snooker amenities as well as transport for the teams. These hopes are all but dead as things stand,” Mukondiwa mourned.
Online Reporter