THERE was mayhem at Sabi Gold Mine last Friday when the Deputy Sheriff arrived to attach Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) property over unpaid debts. ALLIEWAY NYONI OWN CORRESPONDENT
Senior mine officials fled from the Deputy Sheriff who seized a lot of movable property within the mine premises. The Deputy Sheriff had a High Court order to attach ZMDC assets. Although the managers fled the scene, the Deputy Sheriff managed to attach an AVM 75 passenger bus registration number AAZ 6501, a Toyota Hilux ambulance (ACG 1248), UD Diesel trucks and office furniture, among other items.
A court official told Southern Eye that they were going to attach more property today leaving the mine with virtually no equipment.
“They (management) might have escaped, but it’s not over yet. We are going to remove all movable property as clearly outlined by the High Court order,” the official said.
According to officials, Sabi Mine owes millions of dollars to different creditors for unpaid chemicals, machinery, electricity and water, among other things, and has been failing to pay for the past three to six years.
The official highlighted gross mismanagement at ZMDC as the key factor to debt accumulation.
“There is a lot of mismanagement because Sabi produces enough to sustain itself, but where does the money go?” the official quizzed. The workers’ union chairperson David Chiroirombo said employees had gone for over six months without being paid yet the mine produced more than 7kg of gold per week, which was enough to pay all its 500 workers.
“The mine is producing, but workers are not getting their salaries and today we are surprised that the Deputy Sheriff has attached the mine’s property. This leaves one to ask where all the money is going,” Chiroirombo said.
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Associated Mine Workers’ of Zimbabwe Sabi chapter chairperson Mariko Mahaso said workers had recently taken their plight to Labour Court in Gweru and the results would be released on Thursday.
“We have reported our predicament to the Labour Court and the arbitrator said the results would be released on Thursday,” Mahaso said.
He said pensioners had not received their money since 2011. There has been no production at Sabi Mine since Friday as there is no transport to ferry workers to the mine. Security guards are alleged to be using a Toyota Gaia belonging to human resources manager Sebastian Muranga.
