Most Zim mine workers back to work

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s main mining body said yesterday the majority of workers had gone back to work after the government ordered unions to call off a five-day strike that could threaten export earnings.

“The strike has been off in general from this morning. The ministry (of labour) has issued (an) order to the unions to return to work immediately,” Doug Verden, an executive at the Chamber of Mines, told Reuters.”We are now in a position from our point of view to start negotiations,” he said, adding that union leaders had also written to the chamber to say they were calling off the strike.Government and mine workers officials could not be reached for immediate comment yesterday .The strike, which began last Thursday, temporarily disrupted production at Zimbabwe’s platinum mines, operated by Zimbabwe Platinum Mines (Zimplats), majority owned by South Africa’s Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd.Verden said he could not quantify the impact of the strike but said it had cost the industry “millions of US dollars” in export earnings.Other mining firms that have operations or projects in Zimbabwe include the world’s biggest platinum company, Anglo American Platinum, and mining giant Rio Tinto, which has gold mines in the country.The strike was yet another blow to an industry rattled earlier this year by a controversial draft law – later withdrawn – which would have compelled companies to sell up to 49 per cent of their shares to black Zimbabweans.Last week, Chamber of Mines President Ian Saunders said the body was in discussions with President Robert Mugabe’s government over a new draft proposing 30 per cent black ownership in 10 years.Zimbabwe is mineral-rich with reserves including gold, platinum, nickel, copper, coal and asbestos.The southern African country has seen a series of strikes across all sectors in recent years as wages fail to keep up with rising costs and inflation, which soared to 623 per cent in January and remains one of the highest in the world at 314 per cent.-Nampa-ReutersThe ministry (of labour) has issued (an) order to the unions to return to work immediately,” Doug Verden, an executive at the Chamber of Mines, told Reuters.”We are now in a position from our point of view to start negotiations,” he said, adding that union leaders had also written to the chamber to say they were calling off the strike.Government and mine workers officials could not be reached for immediate comment yesterday .The strike, which began last Thursday, temporarily disrupted production at Zimbabwe’s platinum mines, operated by Zimbabwe Platinum Mines (Zimplats), majority owned by South Africa’s Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd.Verden said he could not quantify the impact of the strike but said it had cost the industry “millions of US dollars” in export earnings.Other mining firms that have operations or projects in Zimbabwe include the world’s biggest platinum company, Anglo American Platinum, and mining giant Rio Tinto, which has gold mines in the country.The strike was yet another blow to an industry rattled earlier this year by a controversial draft law – later withdrawn – which would have compelled companies to sell up to 49 per cent of their shares to black Zimbabweans.Last week, Chamber of Mines President Ian Saunders said the body was in discussions with President Robert Mugabe’s government over a new draft proposing 30 per cent black ownership in 10 years.Zimbabwe is mineral-rich with reserves including gold, platinum, nickel, copper, coal and asbestos.The southern African country has seen a series of strikes across all sectors in recent years as wages fail to keep up with rising costs and inflation, which soared to 623 per cent in January and remains one of the highest in the world at 314 per cent.-Nampa-Reuters