HARARE – Over 300 staff on the RZM Murowa diamond mine in Mazvihwa, Midlands province, have downed instruments after going for 2 months with out pay.

The staff declared a strike on Monday after tabling a string of grievances together with unfair labour practices, lack of spares to restore damaged down gear, failure to offer firm transport for workers, poor communication from administration and delayed wage funds.

Murowa, which is part-owned by Rio Zim, produced 419,042 carats in 2022.

Workers say manufacturing could possibly be scaled up if the corporate had a great gear upkeep plan. They accuse the corporate of using informal staff on quick time period contracts and dismissing them at a whim.

An inventory of calls for despatched to administration, and seen by ZimDwell, additionally contains “full payment of outstanding salaries and bonuses and on-time payment going forward; adequate provision of spares; adequate personal protective equipment; resumption of staff bus; timeous communication with employees; on-time payment of medical aid to avoid suspension as is the case in recent times and good corporate governance to stop the siphoning of funds.”

In November final 12 months, the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Mineral Workers Union (ZDAMWU) criticised Murowa over wage delays.

The union stated: “It is noteworthy that productiveness by mine staff at Murowa Diamonds has been at full capability with the corporate working at full throttle. However, this has not translated to wage disbursements and different advantages for the employees.

“This clearly demonstrates that the welfare of workers is not a priority for Murowa Diamonds. What matters to them are profits generated from slave labour.”

On Tuesday, the employees stated they have been being threatened with lack of jobs by administration.

Questions left for the corporate’s basic supervisor Jonathan Mapisaunga had not been answered.