Staff writer
100 families were left abandoned after Amble chrome mine in Mhondoro Ngezi reneged to pay them their salary and terminal packages following the company’s decision to close down in 2006.
The company closed down after facing some viability problems.
Former workers who spoke to The Blast said although the High Court ruled that the company management give them their dues, nothing had been done, leaving them with no option but to scavange for a living through panning for chrome at the mine.
The workers are living in dilapidated conditions at the mine compound without proper ablution facilities and running water, thereby exposing them to a potential health hazard.
“What pains us is that we took our issue to the High Court which ruled in 2007 that we be paid our terminal benefits but until now, nothing has happened,” said Weston Chimombe, the chairman of the former workers.
“Tiri kurarama nekuchera chrome, company yakangotisiya nanhasi ingori zii (We are now surviving by chrome panning as the company has since abandoned us).
“The company closed down operations in 2006 and over the years, we have been surviving by selling the chrome to management who are in Kadoma where they are based,”added Chimombe who also is the spokesperson of the former workers.
Chimombe said the situation is so unbearable for learners who have to walk 30 kilometers daily to the next learning center.
“We have been abandoned…our kids walk 30 kilometers to and from school daily.
We receive water provision from the company’s workshop.
The ablution facilities are deliapidated exposing us to health hazards.We are using blair toilets .The company’s houses we are currently staying in are now deliapidated and unfit for human habitation,’ said Chimombe.
He added that in 2008, police were sent by the company to evict them but could not proceed upon being shown a court order.
“At one point, the company management in 2008, sent police details to evict us but they could not as we showed them a court order which gives us the greenlight to stay at the premises until our salary perks and terminal benefits are settled,”said Chimombe.
EmboAmble mine was opened in 1999 but in 2006 closed after facing viability challenges.
We could not get an immediate response from the mine management.