By Paul Nyathi| (Econet) Steward Bank icon Tawanda Nyambirai has been rubbished for removing his workers from the houses they have lived all their lives at Acturus Mine.

Nyambirai was during the week condemned for upholding the firing of his workers who were punished for merely protesting. In a statement to ZimEye, Mr Nyambirai said his workers have been dismissed “on various grounds including unlawful collective action.”

Nyambirai was responding on the article that last week revealed how elderly workers were forced out of their houses by the man himself.

The development saw the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions descending onto the mine to offer support to the workers.

One critic commented saying, “listen to this faceless Capitalist Oligarch and I quote,”The workers have been dismissed on various grounds including unlawful collective job action.” The working class is now trampled into the dirt for asking for better working conditions and better wages.Is this not what we fought for. This is exactly what Rhodesia did to blacks.This job has its hazards and is back-breaking.The miners deserve better treatment.Government must intervene,especially where they are women and children involved.”

Meanwhile, below was Nyambirai’s full statement: Dear Paul, your article is very unfair. It is also very unfair for you to bring Strive’s good name in matters that do not concern him. This is very irresponsible of you.

The 80 people whose families were evicted had their employment terminated well before I acquired the mine. They appealed against their dismissal and their appeal failed. They had been dismissed on various grounds including engaging in unlawful collective job action. They had held onto company houses because they had not been paid. As part of the deal, I undertook to clear their arrears on the basis that they would vacate upon being paid. After I paid them approximately $700,000.00, some of them engaged lawyers and refused to vacate. Some of them were involved in illegal gold panning. I had to litigate to get them evicted. I acquired Arcturus so that I can exploit its mineral resources and real estate for commercial gain. In the process, I am creating employment and contributing to the national economy. I also have rights. Why should I let people occupy my houses for free, use power that I pay for, at my expense for free, use water and sewerage reticulation facilities at my expense for free? I treat the sewage and purify the water at my expense. Why do you attack me for being a responsible investor and for following due process? If Zimbabwe is open for business to foreigners, it must also be open for business to locals like me. You should be reporting about the politically supported makorokoza who moved in heavy equipment and are processing gold illegally in part of my mine. I have an urgent application pending against them, therefore your allegations of human rights abuses is unfounded. It is my human rights that were being abused.

Kind Regards

For and on behalf of Mr Nyambirai