HARARE – Boltrec Engineering, a firm owned by Mathew Sibanda, nephew to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has seen workers down tools in protest over months of unpaid wages and alleged victimisation by their bosses.
The company provides engineering services at Mimosa Mining Company in Zvishavane and is a conglomerate of BoltGas owned by Sibanda and FC Platinum.
Workers’ chairperson Alphonce Marimbe told ZimLive in an interview that workers have gone for several months without receiving their salaries and are also being victimised by their bosses who are reportedly linked to Zanu PF.
“It’s true we haven’t received salaries; some for two months and some over five months’ period now,” Marimbe said.
“We asked the Managing Director, Kumbirai Gaza about the crisis and he simply told us that they can’t do anything about it because of a garnish from Zimra.
“The state of affairs is deplorable and sometimes we are threatened.”
Reached for comment, Gaza admitted the company owed workers some outstanding wages but dismissed claims of victimisation and Zanu PF links.
“It is clear we cannot operate when Zimra garnishes us and obviously our operations are affected.
“Whatever is being said is just to soil our reputable company.
“Once we fix things with Zimra, I’m sure we will be able to pay their dues,” he said.
ZimLive sources claimed that Boltrec Engineering is being run down and owes Mimosa amounts of money running into millions of US dollars and has failed to deliver goods and services despite receiving some pre-payments.
One employee said workers have been victimised for demanding their dues.
“It is regarded as a crime to ask for your outstanding salary.
“Kumbirai Gaza now has an ‘eat what you kill’ policy for contract workers since we are told to work on days on which materials are available.
“Our foreman Tinashe Mugero told us that he was instructed that we should come to work on weekends with no pay.
“Management has gone four months without salaries and workshop guys are getting into three months.
“We decided to call for a strike after Gaza told us that the company can’t do anything about the crisis because of ZIMRA garnishments,” he said.
Another senior employee said Gaza often holds meetings with some top Zanu PF officials who include Minister July Moyo.
Efforts to reach Human Resources Manager Takura Hungoidza for comment were fruitless as his phone went unanswered.
