Kadoma mine apologises to families after deaths

News
Golden Valley Mine manager Frank Taderera has apologised to the families of the seven miners who perished in a mine accident last Tuesday.

Golden Valley Mine manager Frank Taderera has apologised to the families of the seven miners who perished in a mine accident last Tuesday.

BLESSED MHLANGA STAFF REPORTER

Taderera was speaking at a mass funeral service held at the Golden Valley community hall last week where he also called on unions, workers and stakeholders to be calm while investigations are underway.

“We broke history when we opened a gold mine here with our production levels now we have broken history for the wrong reason with an accident such as this one in modern times and the mine is deeply seized with the problem and would like to apologise to the families of those who passed away in the accident,” he said.Taderera said families of workers who perished in the accident will be compensated through a group life cover insurance taken by Golden Valley Mine although he did not disclose the amounts.

National Mine Workers, Union of Zimbabwe president Tinashe Mugwira who also attended the mass burial, said although they were happy that the mine had apologised and assisted in the burial of its members they wanted more.

“We are told that the group life insurance covers the workers to the tune of salaries worth 24 months and for all those who perished it will be merely $6 000 and that is not enough especially given that most of the late workers were bread winners,” he said.

Mugwira said the union was going to engage the company on more benefits for the late miners in due course.

“We have met the personal department and agreed that we will begin negotiations after the burials are complete and getting the report from the investigators,” he said.

Meanwhile, the union has named the seven miners who perished in the disaster as Adon Phiri, Phineas Machiki, Cliford Mudzara, Lawrance Ndoro, Rangarirai Tsuro, Enock Mulio and Vusa Banda.