RIO ZIM – Renco Mine Workers Feud , Erroneous And Unfounded Misconception – Management Responds
By Desire Tshuma
Following misconceptions and erroneous social media articles circulations about RIO ZIM and it’s workers at Renco Mine, the board for the company has made an official public statement to settle down errors and misconceptions about the company.
According to the Rio Zim board representative who is the company corporate communications officer Dr Wilson Gwatiringa , employees at Renco Mine went on strike on 9 October till November 1 over salary arrears of two months (August and September).
Following an application for a ” show cause Order” by the company, the labour court ruled the strike as illegal on 31 October 2024 and gave an order to be complied with by the employer and the employees.
“The company and its employees are complying with the Labour Court order and the situation at Renco Mine has returned to normal,” said Dr Wilson Gwatiringa, Company corporate communications officer. He went further and said a petition was recently handed over to the company purported to have originated from the employees seeking to have the company to remove Renco Mine management alleging allegations of mismanagement and theft with the support of a union that has 176 members out of the 1100 workforce at the mine.
It is clear that the union is canvassing for members by supporting employees to rise against management, an act in which is disruptive and does not benefit the employees in any way” explained Dr Wilson Gwatiringa.
According to Zimbabwe Diamond & Allied Minerals Workers Union Secretary General, Mr Justice Chinhema, Renco Mine Workers handed petition dated 5 November signed by 716 workers demanding removal of current mine management and demanding investigations.
“For more than five years workers of Rio Zim have been expressing dissatisfaction with the management for failure for timely payments of wages and delay in compensation for injuries and gross mismanagement practices and theft” said Mr Chinhema the union SG .
“As Zimbabwe Allied Minerals & Diamond Workers Union are urging the mine to conduct investigations as it is alleged that gold carbon is taken outside the mine for processing. Suspend the management mentioned in the petition and timely communication with employees,” added Mr Chinhema.
Renco Mine Zimbabwe Diamond Allied & Minerals Workers Union members wishes to take the issue up to the parliament for intervention.
