Mine strike degenerates into violence, looting

Zim Now Writer

A strike at Vubachikwe Mine in Gwanda degenerated into an orgy of violence, looting and destruction of property after a group of mine workers, torching company vehicles and destroying infrastructure and other mining equipment.

The incident happened on Tuesday when the striking workers and illegal miners destroyed vehicles and buildings including a school bus, the mine ambulance and a newly-refurbished clinic.

The group was protesting over the company’s failure to pay workers their October salaries, including arrears from previous months.

Wives of some of the mine workers reportedly picketed the mine premises around 3am, demanding that management addresses their husbands’ grievances.

The women blocked workers from accessing the mine and police were called to the scene at around 4pm and dispersed the by firing tear gas.

The workers later regrouped at night and went back to the mine where they started burning and damaging property and looting shops.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, adding that they had arrested over 100 people for public violence.

“I can confirm that we are handling a case of violence which occurred at Vubachikwe Mine where a group of people moved around damaging property and looting shops. The group comprises mine workers and illegal gold panners,” he said.

“So far, we have arrested over 100 people and they are assisting us with investigations. The gang leaders are part of those arrested and through our investigations we managed to recover some of the looted property and the value of damaged property, which include vehicles, mine equipment and infrastructure is yet to be ascertained.”

Asst Comm Nyathi urged members of the public to desist from violence and find amicable ways of resolving their grievances.

Vubachikwe Mine spokesperson Robert Mukondiwa said a group of women blocked the entrance to the mine, obstructing willing workers reporting for the morning shift from entering the mine premises.

“They went on to stage an illegal protest which crippled mine business and further obstructed mine officials from switching on the generators when loss of power was experienced. This resulted in flooding of the underground mine shafts as well as a number of other impediments to smooth operation of the mine,” he said.

Mukondiwa said the group destroyed the gates and scaled the perimeter fence to enter the mine premises before they burnt a school bus, trucks and destroyed the mine ambulance which also serves the local community.

They also reportedly vandalised mine shafts and damaged the window panes of a newly-refurbished mine clinic.

Mukondiwa added that the group destroyed infrastructure and amenities serve the very community that destroyed them, adding that the destruction has disrupted production and operations at the mine have been suspended pending the replacement of the damaged infrastructure.