RIOT POLICE . . . forced striking workers to return to work (file picture)

HARARE – Riot police and state security agents have forced striking workers in the southwestern mining town of Zvishavane to return to work while seven others suspected to have links with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party have been summarily dismissed from work, labour leaders said.

It also emerged on Thursday that the three workers who were shot on September 25 at Shabanie Mine have been transferred to Harare for specialist treatment at a private hospital. 

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) spokesperson Khumbulani Ndlovu said gun-totting policemen and the dreaded secret service – Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) – went on a door-to-door campaign on Tuesday to force the striking workers to report for duty the following day.

“The state security agents together with Shabanie Mine security Officers visited workers in their homes on September 29 threatening them that if they did not return to work the following day the workers should vacate not only the mine houses they were occupying but also get out of town,” said Ndlovu.

As a result, said the ZCTU spokesperson, on September 30 about three quarters of the 2 280 striking workers returned to work.

She said management then immediately began holding “kangaroo court” hearings, resulting in the dismissal of seven workers.

Ndlovu said the dismissed employees were charged with absence from work without official leave, defying the general manager's memo instructing them to return to work.

“The workers' legal representative had earlier requested management to inform him when the hearings would take place but the mine management declined to inform him of the date and time of the hearings. As of September 30 seven workers have been dismissed. These workers are known by management for their MDC activism as they hold posts in the MDC youth assembly and ward executive. It seems the matter has also become an issue of discrimination on political grounds. Those who are known to belong to ZANU PF have been guaranteed their jobs back,” added the ZCTU spokesperson.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said he had not been informed of the incident. “I am not aware that police took part in that incident,” said Bvudzijena.

Ndlovu also revealed that on September 30, the home of ZCTU Zvishavane district secretary Ndodana Sithole was raided by police officers allegedly demanding to know what action the ZCTU was planning to take. Sithole was also warned not to meet any of Shabanie Mine employees.

Ndlovu said in September alone, the ZCTU reported three serious cases of violations of freedom of association to Labour Minister Pauline Mpariwa.

“To this end, the ZCTU is pushing for a parliamentary commission of inquiry to look into the Shabanie and Mashava Mine incidents where workers have not been paid since January,” she said.

Last week police opened fire on hundreds of striking workers in Zvishavane, injuring four workers including an MDC councilor in an incident Tsvangirai’s party condemned saying the police action was clear abuse of human rights.

Shabanie and Mashaba mines, which produce asbestos were expropriated by President Robert Mugabe’s government from exiled businessman Mutumwa Mawere in 2004 when his company was put under judicial administration for allegedly failing to pay debts. – ZimOnline