Makomo Resources 'Fires' Workers After Salary Dispute
Coal-mining firm Makomo Resources has reportedly verbally terminated its workers’ contracts following a disagreement over unpaid two-months’ salaries.
Workers who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com on condition of anonymity said they were last paid in October.
The lowest-paid worker earns about Z$20 000 per month.
About 400 workers reportedly staged a sit-in on Tuesday after the company decided to pay each between 30 and 50 per cent of their monthly salaries without any explanation being given.
The workers said the company’s general manager Kuda Nyabonda chased everyone away from the premises telling them they had been fired. One of the disgruntled workers said:
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… they told us to go home saying the mine had shut down and verbally terminated our contracts. They said we should not come back until there is money, adding that they were tired of working with unhappy workers.
They said once the mine starts making money, they will call people back starting with the less problematic ones.
The workers have since approached Chief Nekatambe in whose area the mine is located and a Labour officer to register their concerns.
Makomo Resources is located on the outskirts of Hwange town and produces about 300 000 tonnes of coal per month.
This makes it easily the country’s largest coal producer followed by Hwange Colliery Company which produces about 200 000 tonnes per month.
Makomo sells the bulk of its coal to the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and also exports to DRC and Zambia.
