Last week the workers besieged the mine after getting word that gold was to be airlifted to Harare.
The workers and the villagers also want Tourism and Hospitality Minster, Walter Mzembi, to assist them in addressing their problems despite a High Court order barring the legislator from interfering with any activities at Masvingo’s biggest gold producer.
Workers Committee Chairman, Vincent Matiza, told The Zimbabwean they would resist any moves to have the gold moved elsewhere.
“We have agreed with management that no gold should be taken anywhere before our concerns have been addressed,” said Matiza.
However, riot police descended on the mine last week to disperse the workers as they tried to block 33kg of gold from being airlifted to Harare. Police armed with AK 47s raided the mine and threatened to shoot anyone who tried to block the gold from being airlifted.
A spokesman for the wives of workers at the mine, Elizabeth Kufonya, said they would approach President Robert Mugabe and Vice President Joice Mujuru over the issue.
The workers at the mine are demanding better salaries and working conditions while the community wants RIO Zim to plough some of its profits back into the community.
They claim that some of them are earning as little as $100 per month.
Contacted for comment over developments at the mine, Mine Manager Suprene Kachisa, refused to talk to the press.
Post published in: News