By Ilanga Chief Reporter
A Vumbachikwe peaceful demonstration ended up being volatile after police threw tear gas and
opened live ammunition on children and pregnant women.
The peaceful demonstration started as early as 3am on Tuesday when the wives of Vumbachikwe
mine workers blocked their husbands from going to work.
They barricaded the main gate with the intention of blocking mine workers from going to their
shifts in protest against non-payment of salaries over four months.
Wives of mine workers demanded answers from the mine management, who refused to attend to
them and instead the mine manager locked himself in his Toyota Hilux GD6 from 12 noon up to
around 6pm when he was rescued by anti-riot police who displaced the demonstrators with tear
smoke.
Initially, ZRP Officer Commanding Gwanda District, Chief Superintendent Mandlenkosi Moyo,
tried to reason with the wives of miners but his efforts were in vain as the wives rejected his
advice, a move which led to running battles between protestors and the police.
In his address to the demonstrators, the senior police officer began by talking to the wives of the
mine workers.
“We are here as police officers not to harass you but to harmonise your situation with mine
management.
“By right you are not supposed to be the ones demonstrating because you are not employed by
the mine. However, as someone who grew up from a similar community I understand your
plight.
“In Ndebele they say wathinta umfazi wathinta imbokodo, literally meaning that if u violate a
woman you would have invited trouble.
“My police officers have been here with you since morning to protect you and the mine
management. As you can see, we did not bring dogs and heavy ammunition because your
situation is genuine,” said the District Police Officer, much to the amusement of the crowd.
However, tables shifted when the officer tried to address the mine workers, who had barricaded
the entrance points to the mine sandwiching the police officers and mine management.
Workers requested to be addressed by their employer and not by police. This was turned down.
During the skirmishes, some of the workers started picking up stones, a move that infuriated the
District Police Officer, who later changed his command.
Working in liaison with his officers in charge of Gwanda urban and rural, he ordered the police
to disperse the demonstrators with tear smoke and scared those who were resisting by firing in
the air.
As the situation degenerated into violence, protestors started damaging property and blocked the
main road before burning and looting from a supermarket.
Those who were interviewed earlier said they were now incapacitated as they had not been paid
for four months.
“Our husbands are working for nothing. They have not been paid for the past four months and
management still expects them to report for duty.
“As their wives, we have said enough is enough. Children need to go to school. We need to eat,
wash and buy properties, but we can’t because there is no pay,” said a woman who refused to
identify herself.
Another elderly woman, who is a pensioner weighed in echoing similar sentiments.
“What Vumba management is doing is not fair at all. This is total abuse of workers, going to
work every day without pay for four months.
“I worked for this mine for 35 years and never experienced such mismanagement. I am waiting
for my pension and nothing positive is coming out. Workers contribute towards NASSA and
funeral polices, yet management is not remitting our contributions to service providers.
“This is criminal. These people must be arrested,” fumed the old woman.
