BY MTHANDAZO NYONI / PATRICIA SIBANDA

WORKERS at a Matobo-based mining firm, Yakutsi Investments, have accused their employer of gross human rights abuses ranging from beatings and unfair dismissals.

The concerned workers have engaged the National Union of Mines, Quarry, Iron and Steel Workers of Zimbabwe with a view to taking the matter to the Labour Court.

The disgruntled workers told Southern Eye yesterday that they had had enough of the abuse.

“These guys are ruthless, I can tell you. Once you complain of poor working conditions at the mine, you get beaten up. We are working for 12 hours a day and only get paid for eight hours which is not fair,” one worker said on condition of anonymity.

“Last week they beat us up and we reported the matter to our union, but to our surprise they fired us all from work without severance packages and January salaries. These guys do not respect labour laws at all,” another worker said.

National Union of Mines, Quarry, Iron and Steel Workers of Zimbabwe regional officer Abraham Kavalanjila confirmed receiving the complaint from the workers.

He said they were in the process of taking the matter to the Labour Court for recourse.

“They approached the union informing us of the abuse. This is not the first time it has happened. It’s like the company has a long history of abusing its employees and we are saying that should stop forthwith. We are engaging them and taking up the matter to the Labour Court. They do not even remit monies to the union,” he said.

Kavalanjila urged Chinese investors to respect local people and the country’s labour laws.

Contacted for comment yesterday, a Yakutsi Mining official only identified as Mike, who is also accused of beating up workers, invited Southern Eye to visit the mine to investigate instead of relying on “false” allegations.

“Who made up the stories? You better come to the company and see for yourselves. Why do you listen to some bad people?” he asked.

He further accused the workers of stealing from him and denied allegations of assaulting them.

“If they are saying that I beat them, you are welcome to bring the police for further investigations. All I did was give them respect and in return they talk s***t behind my back.
Anyway we have CCTV footage here open for 24 hours. All they did was cheat and steal property from me,” Mike fumed.

Yakutsi Mining manager Patrick Mleya declined to comment and referred Southern Eye to the union and the National Employment Council for the Mining Industry.

BY BRENNA MATENDERE

MAIN opposition MDC party leader Nelson Chamisa heads for the Midlands on Thursday where he is set to bolster the movement’s support base by interfacing with elected lower-tier structures in the province.

Midlands provincial spokesperson Takavafira Zhou confirmed Chamisa’s planned visit pointing out that the youthful leader will meet constituency co-ordinating committees as well as branch chairpersons, secretaries, treasurers and organisers in the province.

“In essence, party leaders from branch to provincial levels will be provided with a rare opportunity to interface with the president and enhance cross-pollination of ideas in the party,” Zhou said.

“It is also an attempt to narrow the gap between leaders and grassroots supporters as well as entrench participatory development of grassroots structures in shaping the path and actual direction of the party, let alone develop the same frame of reference within the party.”

The MDC has declared 2020 as a year of action in which it will roll out crippling protests to force President Emmerson Mnangagwa to address multifaceted political and economic crises in the country which have caused serious hardships among citizens.

During his tour, Chamisa is expected to touch base and articulate to MDC Midlands leaders the direction that the party is taking so that they spread the message to citizens.

The Midlands is one of the provinces in which the MDC fared dismally in the 2018 elections after winning four parliamentary seats out of 28.

These are Mbizo (Settlement Chikwinya) Gweru Urban (Brian Dube) Chiwundura (Livingstone Chimina) and Mkoba (Amos Chibaya). Zanu PF won 23 parliamentary seats with one (Kwekwe Central) clinched by the former ruling party’s cadre, Masango Matambanadzo, who contested under the National Patriotic Front ticket.

Zhou said the visiting MDC leader will, therefore, unveil strategies to end the dominance of Zanu PF in the Midlands during the 2023 elections, while also mending rifts that could be existing within the party.

“The supremacy of the branch in growing the votes will be deliberated in order for party members to fully comprehend it. Constituency co-ordinating committees would be afforded the opportunity to share its work plans with branches and segments above them.

“Leaders would, therefore, have an opportunity to listen to ideas from grassroots structures, while grassroots structures rub shoulders with party president and this will give inspiration to them. The tour will, therefore, enhance interoperability within the party in the Midlands province and define, shape and nurture the collective vision, wisdom, direction, actual path and pace of growth of the MDC in the Midlands province,” Zhou said.

BY SILAS NKALA

SIMALU Mining (Pvt) Limited has been barred from invading and conducting business at 10 claims belonging to nine Gwanda small-scale miners operating as Lushonkwe Nqama Small-Scale.

Patrick Dube, Zibion Sibanda, Sifiso Ndlovu, Angelina Dube, Ntokozo Ngwenya, Misheck Nyathi, Zodwa Moyo, Tshinyiwe Ncube and Nozipho Sibanda, through their lawyer Dumisani Dube, filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court challenging the fraudulent acquisition of their claims.

They cited Simalu Mining (Pvt) Ltd, Ntokozo Hlongwane, Casper Ndlovu, Major Maseko, Naphtal Ncube, Rachael Nthala, the provincial mining director Matabeleland South, Scrap Crushers (Pvt) Limited, the Matabeleland South Province Affairs minister Abednicho Ncube, the officer commanding Matabeleland South police and the Sheriff of the High Court as respondents.

In their particulars of the claim, they submitted that Scrap Crushers (Pvt) Ltd, which holds several claims within Lushonkwe Community agreed to cede to them Orient 1, Orient 2, Lady Annah 4, Lady Annah 5, Lady Annah 6, Lady Annah 7, Lady Annah 8, Lady Annah 9, Lady Annah 10 and Lady Annah 11, held under registration numbers 37537-46.

“The community subsequently delegated some committee members to oversee the process of legal transfer, logistics and payment of arrears and transfers. The said members registered a company Simalu Mining (Private) Limited, (first defendant), without the knowledge, blessing and authority of the plaintiffs and other community members,” the claim read.

On December 3, 2018 community members reported the fraudulent transfer of the claims to Simalu Mining to the (Mines) minister who advised the defendants to transfer the claims back to Lushonkwe Nqama Trust.

“On February 27, 2019, plaintiffs submitted all the requisite papers to the provincial mining director for Matabeleland South. Despite numerous demands for the defendants to transfer the claims to the plaintiffs there has been no transfer of the stolen claims.”

“Wherefore, plaintiffs pray for an order for the cancellation of the transfer of ten (10) gold mining blocks … as it was done fraudulently, unlawfully and through misrepresentation and, therefore, void ab initio.”

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa last week ordered the applicants to be allowed access to the mine claims and carry out their normal activities.

“The applicants’ agents, assigners and or employees shall accompany the Sheriff, Messenger of Court, Gwanda and members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Mines ministry to identify the mining claims and shafts referred to,” Kabasa ruled. “The first and second defendants (Simalu and Hlongwane) and any other person acting through them are hereby interdicted …from conducting any mining activities, works, surveys, prospecting and pegging on the (claims) and any other shafts being worked by applicants.”

Justice Kabasa ordered Simalu Mining and Hlongwane to pay the cost of suit.

BY PRECIOUS CHIDA

FASHION designer-cum-hip-hop artiste Tadiwanashe “Que” Nyanga has taken his third fashion collection for a two months exhibition and cultural exchange programme to Germany.

The designer, who is also a Jibilika dancer is also set to perform at the shows where he will be showcasing his designs.

Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style from Germany yesterday, Nyanga said the collection which he took to Botswana last year was meant to showcase their street culture and build a strong hip hop culture in Zimbabwe.

“Ngoma nehosho is the drum and the shakers which were and are still used in the village during their traditional ceremonies where they would show case their culture. The garments fashioned their lifestyle and it was the pulse of the village. So we want to showcase pulse of the city street culture and our life in the city,” he said.

“I intend to improve my craft and build a strong vibrant hip hop culture foundation in Zimbabwe that has our own identity, not imitating the Western culture or South Africa.”

Nyanga added that his project will be a fusion of both fashion and music which has seen him producing a track with the same theme.

“I have recorded Ngoma nehosho sound track featuring Ulenni Okandlovu which talks about our culture and defining the pulse of the city which is dropping soon. Ngoma nehosho is more than fashion. I am still going to collaborate with different creatives from Germany and we are going to record a track fusing different cultures and hosting fashion and dance workshops,” he said.

Nyanga said he will be pushing Ngoma nehosho for the whole of 2020 through shows in Zimbabwe and around southern Africa. The artiste, who started his own fashion label titled Que in 2018, created a label that tells the story of the modern “African” people.

He combines traditional and modern forms, which saw him go for multi-disciplinary fashion shows at the Denor Fashion Festival in Gaborone, Botswana last year.

Editorial comment

Cases of faith healers and “prophets” who tell people with HIV and Aids to stop taking their life-saving drugs have become rampant in Zimbabwe with many people mortgaging their lives away simply because someone told them divine healing could reverse the condition.

It makes sad reading that many people are dying after defaulting on their medication which has been proven to actually prolong life and offer them a chance to fend for their families.

Antiretroviral drugs although they do not effectively kill the virus, they target and block different stages of the virus’ life cycle. By doing so, the virus is unable to replicate and weaken the human body’s immune system.

And so when patients deliberately stop taking them, the virus can re-emerge (rebound) and multiply. This leaves the body defenceless and unable to fight off any opportunistic infections. The unfortunate ones die while others will have to be initiated to the second line of treatment which is more expensive. Currently, there are challenges with some drugs on this line, more reason why people should stick to their first-line treatment regime.

These “fake” prophets and faith healers must be taken to task for misleading their congregants and sending them to an early grave. This perennial problem has remained a huge headache for health workers and programmers who are working tirelessly to stem further spread of the disease.

There has to be a legal framework which compels these men of the cloth to desist from making false claims of faith healing. Mere cautioning and awareness raising is not enough in the absence of actual deterrent measures because thousands are in awe of these “men of God” who take advantage of the desperation of the patients to be healed completely.

It is common knowledge that to date there is no known cure (scientifically) of the disease and it is just downright irresponsible of the faith healers to claim otherwise. They should be condemned in the strongest terms because they wield so much power over hapless people who would do anything to be totally rid of the scourge which continues to kill millions every year globally.

The National Aids Council is on the right path of trying to engage further with the church in a bid to get them to understand why it is important to let those on ARVs continue with their medication unless told otherwise by qualified medical personnel.

The responsibility, however, also lies with the congregants who are allowing themselves to be hoodwinked and led astray. They owe it to their families to stay alive and continue to be productive and contribute to the country’s economy which clearly needs more people on board. It is most disheartening when parents decide to stop medication even for the sake of their minor children who have no say in the matter.

Miracle healing when it comes to HIV should be questioned and interrogated. Evidence so far has shown that those who stopped their medication have either died or are struggling with their health.

BY FIDELITY MHLANGA

CEMENT producer, Lafarge Zimbabwe chief executive Siame Kaulule has left his position, a year after assuming the post, NewsDay Business has established.

Kaulule joined the company from Lafarge Holcim in the United Kingdom where he was general manager for retail.

He succeeded Amal Naiel, who spent five years in the post.

According to a memo gleaned by NewsDay Business, Kaulule said he had left Zimbabwe to assume a different post at the Lafarge group’s operations in South Africa.

“I would like to share with you some significant development in the last few days. I have been asked by the group to take on the leadership of our cement and Ash Resources business in South Africa.

“While I did not expect to be communicating this type of news this soon in my tenure at Manresa, I have to accept the re-assignment knowing that it is a testament to the work that we have done together,” a communique from Kaulule read.

He gave credit to the staff for enduring the tough business operating environment in the country.

“I would have loved to share this news with you in person, but my travel schedule and how quickly things have moved did not make this possible. I am saddened to be sharing this bitter sweet moment with you via email, but we will have the chance to have a face-to-face discussion once I return,” he said.

“Looking back on my time in Zimbabwe, we have confronted seemingly insurmountable business challenges daily. I have seen our teams navigate these hurdles and mountains in ways that have not only made Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe a better company, but also made all of us far stronger.”

Efforts to get a comment from Lafarge yesterday were futile as questions emailed to the company had not been responded to at the time of going to print.

Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe is a unit of dual-listed Swiss-based Lafarge Holcim and trades its shares on the Euronext and Swiss stock exchanges.

The company swung to profitability in the six months to June 2019, recording a ZWL$2,9 million profit in the reviewed period from a ZWL$1,8 million loss in the same period prior year.

Revenue for the period went up 169% to ZWL$87,5 million in the period under review from ZWL$32,5 million in the same period in 2018.

BY KENNETH NYANGANI

SMALL-SCALE miners in Mutasa district said Mutasa Rural District Council’s failure to rehabilitate roads that link gold claims and milling plants had adversely affected gold production.

The miners made the remarks at a Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust-organised workshop in the district recently.

Samuel Mandara, a miner, said they were paying road levy every month despite the council’s reluctance to rehabilitate roads.

He said they had been greatly affected particularly this rainy season.

“As small-scale miners we are struggling to transport gold ore to gold millers because of poor roads. We are paying $60 road levy to Mutasa Rural District Council, but nothing is being done and this is affecting our production,” he said.

“The roads are in a bad state especially in this rainy season, something needs to be done. We end up repairing the roads on our own and this is not good at all,” he said
Zimbabwe Miners Federation treasurer-general Lufeyi Shato, who also attended the meeting said: “Roads has been a cause of concern for us miners and we are really affected. Something needs to be done. Mining is a combination of things, we also need water and electricity among others,” he said.

Council chief executive officer Tonderai Bandure’s mobile phone went unanswered when attempts were made to contact him for comment.

In a related matter, residents in the leafy suburb of Murambi Gardens in Mutare have accused town clerk Joshua Maligwa of prioritising the maintenance of a road that leads to his “doorstep” disregarding some areas in the suburb.

Some residents in the affluent suburb said they were concerned about the poor state of roads.

“We have discovered that the town clerk (Joshua Maligwa) is prioritising the road that leads to his doorstep. He has minimised potholes in his street. We have realised that the road has been patched, disregarding other roads nearby,” said one resident on condition of anonymity.

Another resident said Maligwa was abusing his office “to summon a workforce to patch his tarmac road, disregarding neighbouring roads”.

NewsDay visited Spathodia Avenue over the weekend where the town clerk stays and saw that it had been rehabilitated, while the nearby Sanhanga Road is in bad shape.

United Mutare Residents Ratepayers Trust (UMMRT) director Sebastian Bakare refused to comment on the Maligwa matter.

Last week, he wrote to Mutare City Council complaining about poor roads in Murambi where he also stays.

Mayor Blessing Tandi said he had received the letter, but refused to comment further preferring to be paid a visit at his office.

“I have received the letter, but l don’t prefer to give you my comment through telephone, visit my office,” he said
Bakare yesterday said council was taking residents for granted.

“Mutare City Council is taking us for fools. There is no seriousness in addressing our issues. They should let us know what they are doing with our money,” he said.

“We have been paying roads levy and street light levy in Murambi Gardens but there is no development. We have been paying faithfully these levies. At least council should notify us where the money is going, maybe we can understand.”

Maligwa’s mobile phone went unanswered yesterday.