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Blessings Chidakwa in Kadoma
Government has allowed all former employees retrenched by the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation in Chegutu to stay in the houses they are living in, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Polite Kambamura has revealed.

Addressing a Zanu-PF inter-district meeting in Chegutu recently, Deputy Minister Kambamura said all the former employees with proof that they worked at the mine before its closure should retain the houses.

He said those staying in the houses illegally would be evicted.

At least 300 people, including former mine workers, widows and orphans, were evicted or displaced from the houses.

Deputy Minister Kambamura said Government had taken heed of the plight of those affected by the mine closure and subsequent evictions.

“The issue of former ZMDC employees who were evicted from their houses, we discussed it with (Mines and Mining Development) Minister Winston Chitando and agreed that if there are workers with evidence that they were employed by the mine and are now destitute, let them occupy those mine houses,” he said.

“The same initiative was done in Mhangura at a former ZMDC mine and if it was successful that side the arrangement will also sail through in Chegutu.”

Deputy Minister Kambamura said illegal occupants should vacate and pave way for the rightful owners.

“There are cases of people who are staying in those houses, but were never employed by the ZMDC,” he said. “These should be evicted for the rightful owners to move in while the local leadership should assist.”

Meanwhile,  Deputy Minister Kambamura called for the redeployment of Agritex officials who are not performing their duties.

He said the officers had become counter-productive, while destroying agricultural production in their areas.