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Blessings Chidakwa and Heather Charema
Nine-hundred employees are set to be retrenched while at least 350 families face eviction at Dalny Mine in Chakari, after it was taken over by RioZim. The mine was previously owned by Falcon Gold.

The workers and the affected families are appealing for Government’s urgent intervention to save them after they were ordered to vacate the premises by January 30. The Herald is in possession of the eviction letters, which were hand-delivered to the mine workers on December 19.

“We write to advise that we have been appointed by RioZim Limited to manage their properties situated at Dalny Mine with effect from the December 19, 2017,” reads part of the eviction letter.

“You are hereby given an eviction notice and notice to vacate on or before January 31 the premises and appurtenances now owned by RioZim Limited, which premises are now occupied by you. The reasons for the eviction notices are as follows: we write to confirm that RioZim has concluded an agreement with Falcon Gold Limited for the purchase of Dalny Mine; as a result thereof, we confirm that the mine is now under the management of RioZim Limited.”

“We are aware that there have been labour-related issues raised in regard to non-payment of salaries by your former employer, which had resulted in a number of former employees continuing to occupy company premises on the basis of lease agreements entered into with your former employer.”

“We hereby advise that all labour-related matters and grievances must be referred to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare for determination, and not RioZim Limited.”