Struggling Riozim’s Dalny mine in 6 months blackout
RioZim Limited’s Chakari-based mine, Dalny mine, has been without power for over half a year due to a huge electricity debt, it has been revealed.
Rudairo Mapuranga
There have been reports that RioZim has been struggling to pay its debts including paying workers which has resulted in the company decreasing in production.
According to Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Mine Workers Union (ZDAMWU), General Secretary Justice Nhema, electricity at Dalny mine was cut due to debts leading to the closure of the mine with workers at the mine transferred to Cam and Motor mine in Kadoma.
“Zesa was cut off due to debts. Workers at Dalny Mine were then transferred to Cam & Motor Mine in Eiffel Flats,” Nhema said.
Nhema, representing workers, also accused RioZim of delaying payment of salaries, and threats to the workforce, among a cocktail of other allegations.
“The truth of it all is that Rio Zim who owns Dalny, Cam and Motor, Renco and MUROWA are facing financial problems. Workers have not been paid salaries on time. They are failing to pay salaries. Salaries are paid half, half every month,” the ZDAMWU General Secretary said.
Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe, RioZim Corporate Affairs Manager Dr Wilson Gwatiringa could neither confirm nor deny the reports that Dalny Mine has been without power.
“Hello, Rudairo. I don’t have a comment on that,” he said.
In its trading update for the first quarter of 2022, RioZim blamed the lack of production at Dalny Mine on poor ground conditions and flooding. The company also indicated that the mine was going to be operational during the second quarter.
“There was no gold production at Dalny mine throughout the period. The mine suffered from poor ground conditions and flooding of its pits which rendered mining activities insurmountable. The mine is scheduled to resume operations in the second quarter after dewatering of the pits.” RioZim said through its trading update for the first quarter of 2022.