Sabi Mine closure

via Sabi Mine shut down – NewsDay Zimbabwe. 9 June 2014

SABI Gold Mine in Zvishavane has been shut down throwing about 500 workers out of work.

OWN CORRESPONDENT

The closure came a week after the Messenger of Court attached Sabi Mine property worth over millions in unpaid debts.

Workers’ representatives said they were last week told by management that the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC)-owned mine had closed because of financial constraints.

“The management from Harare informed us that we were heading for shutdown and there was no need for workers to continue coming to work until an investor has been found,” workers’ committee chairperson David Chiroirombo said.

“It is surprising that the top officials highlighted the escalation of debts and financial crises as the major reason to the shutdown yet the mine is sitting on large gold ore waiting to be extracted.”

Associated Mine Workers of Zimbabwe Sabi chapter chairperson Mariko Mahaso said there would be a council meeting where management and workers would agree on packages since the mine had been producing before the latest shutdown.

Sabi Mine’s shutdown raises ZMDC’s number of closed mines to three in Zvishavane after asbestos and emerald-rich mines Shabanie and Sandawana mines respectively.