Why is government quiet on Mbada saga?

By Mbada Diamonds worker

OPINION – It is exactly two weeks since the the retrenched Mbada Diamonds workers besieged their former employers headquarters and government has kept quiet over the issue.

It has become the norm for us that we hear drums and loud singing every morning, afternoon and when we finish our work, from Mbada Diamonds workers at the New Office Park at Sam Levy Borrowdale Harare.

Mbada Diamonds owes these men and women a seven month salary and retrenchment package which it has termed terminal benefits just to flee paying retrenchment packages stipulated by the labour laws.

Since the 3rd of March 2015, no official company executive has come just speak with the workers who have turned destitute whilst the board Chairman who for the past 5 years has turned the company and country’s revenue from the diamonds to be his personal property.

He has bought properties in India, Dubai, a farm in France, a house in South Africa only accessed by a boat or ship. He continues to live an extraordinary life at the expense of the workers.

But why has the government kept quiet whilst Mbada has not been remitting for the past 9 months? Minister Walter Chidhakwa knows that Robert Mhlanga has converted the country’s diamonds to be his.

It is a pity that the government is quiet whilst there are gross human rights abuses. People are sleeping outside, eating poor foods and the fear of cholera is rising amongst the workers.

Is the government not aware that the workers only need their outstanding salaries and terminal benefits and start over their life somewhere. Not pay rise or other incentives.

Mbada Diamonds worker