Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) SMM pays workers, three years later

COMMENT - This article originates from the CIA interlinked Voice Of America, so take it with a pinch of salt when they are talking down the performance of state owned enterprises/parastatals. They and their MDC have clear designs on the Zimbabwean people's property. Also, no one in this day and age should be producing asbesthos.

SMM pays workers, three years later
04/01/2012 00:00:00
by VOA I NewZiana

SOME three thousand Shabanie Mashaba Mines (SMM) workers have received a month's salary, their first in three years, as the parastatal handed control of the company said it was considering options for reviving the moribund asbestos producer.

The Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), a state-owned company which also operates joint ventures with South African and Chinese firms in the Marange diamond fields last week paid workers amounts ranging between US$160 to US$3,000.

Managerial Employees Committee Chairman Percy Ngwenya said the state firm only paid salaries for December without indicating when it would pay the larger balance of more than US$15 million in outstanding wages.

SMM was seized by the government from businessman Mutumwa Mawere several years ago over claims the company had failed to pay debts owed to several state enterprise. Mawere denies the claims and has been fighting to win back control of the mines since.

The mines were forced to cease operation in 2008, weighed down by under-capitalisation and decrepit plant and equipment.

The collapse of the once-profitable company left more than 3,000 workers jobless, hitting hard the towns of Zvishavane and Mashava where the company was a key employer.

Still, the ZMDC has said it is close to completing the feasibility study that could pave way for the resumption of mining operations at the mines.

ZMDC Chairman Goodwills Masimirembwa told New Ziana that mining operations would commence within 90 days of the completion of the feasibility study.

"We are almost completing the feasibility study which will pave way for the commencement of mining operations at Shabanie Mashaba Mines. We hope that in the next 90 days mining operations will have started," he said

Masimirembwa said the ZMDC was determined to revive SMM as it had already paid the workers their outstanding salaries.

"To prove that we are determined to revive the mines, we paid SMM workers last week," he said.

Before suspending operations, SMM used to produce an estimated 200,000 tonnes of asbestos every year.

Once one of Africa's largest asbestos producers, the mine had access to markets in the United States, Britain, Angola, Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique, India, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, China and Indonesia.

Labels: SALARIES, SMM HOLDINGS LTD

posted by MrK @ 6:27 PM