Anjin promises to pay workers, luring them back to work after strike

Anjin diamond mine is said to promise to pay outstanding salaries to its workers for September and October after they started a strike.
The company, which mines diamonds in Marange is a joint venture between China’s Anhui Foreign Economic Construction and the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC).
The Source reports that workers who downed tools last week over the unpaid salaries were recently asked to return to work after management promised to pay their outstanding salaries.
Unnamed workers claimed that they had entered into a written agreement with management which promised to pay the outstanding salaries for September on October 30 and for this month on November 20.
Marange firms have, since 2013, reported diminishing alluvial diamond deposits in the area.
The miners, who have been engaged in open cast operations, said they had hit hard rock and that deep seated conglomerate diamonds were not commercially viable.
Some workers were made to work for 12 hours instead of the stipulated eight hours, while accidents in the workplace were also on the increase.
Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa said last month that the government had started the process of integrating Marange, Gye Nyame and Kusena into one company.
Currently 7 companies operate the region:  Marange Resources, Anjin Investments Ltd., Diamond Mining Company, Gyn Nyame Resources, Jinan Mining Ltd., Kusena Diamonds, and Mbada Diamonds. Harare wants up to two miners to operate in the area to plug in leakages.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished