Kamandama widows applaud HCCL.

The remaining widows of the Kamandama Disaster have applauded the efforts being made by
Hwange Colliery Company in supporting their welfare. This follows earlier disgruntlement over the
cancellations of the annual commemoration event.
The company then said there were planning something better than the usual commemorations and
gave some foodstuffs to the widows. Now there is talk of a Hwange Disaster Fund which setup by
HCC to cater for the widows following the Kamandama disaster.
Speaking to the widows during a belated Kamandama disaster commemoration organised by Centre
for Natural Resources Governance, (CNRG) one of the widows confirmed that the company had
started to support them from last year.
“The company has started supporting us. They now offer medical bills, food handouts and last year
in June they gave us USD$500 and in December last year, (we received) some food hampers. In April
this year we also received USD$200. This year when we met at the memorial site, they gave us
USD$400 and food hampers as well as blankets, ‘’ said one of the beneficiary.
The Kamandama disaster is the worst in Zimbabwe as it claimed 427 miners leaving behind their
spouses.
It is 51 years since the disaster and there are about 50 surviving widows. In the previous years the
widows were only given transport money to attend the Commemorations on June 6.
Meanwhile one of the surviving widows known as Commander appealed to the company to extend
their hand in offering them decent accommodation.
“We really appreciate the efforts made by the company, but what we want now is the provision of
decent accommodation,” she said.