Published: 17 March 2014

STRUGGLING chrome mining concern, Zimasco Private Limited, has embarked on a voluntary retrenchment exercise targeting to cut about 500 jobs across the company's entire operations in the country.

Zimasco has chromite mining operations in Shurugwi, Kwekwe and Mutorashanga, and employs about 3 000 workers.

Highly placed sources at the chrome mining giant told Sunday Business that the retrenchment exercise which commenced sometime in February this year, had already claimed the scalps of about 300 employees. The sources said the remaining 200 employees were expected to be laid off this month.

Last year Zimasco retrenched 108 employees to bring the total number of retrenched employees so far to 408."Retrenchment started on the 24th of February this year when management offered interested employees to submit their names for voluntary retrenchment. From what I have gathered by the end of February about 300 people had been retrenched.

"The remaining 200 might be retrenched this month. Those that were retrenched have already started receiving their dues," said one of the company's executives who refused to be named for fear of breaching protocol.

General Manager for Zimasco's Shurugwi division, Namatai Mapfumo, declined to shed light on the matter, referring all questions to Clara Sadomba who is the company's general manager (administration). Sadomba could, however, not be reached for comment as she was said to be away in Cape Town and was expected back in the country tomorrow.

- Sunday News

You might also want to read this

• Zimasco scales up production
• Small scale miner sues Zimasco over gold claim
• Ex-Zimasco workers likely to get houses
• Zimasco wins case against ChinaZim
• Zimasco to invest $80m in expansion projects
• Zimasco to exit reconstruction
• Zimasco strikes deal with creditors
• Zimasco set to come out of judicial management
• Zimasco engages creditors
• Zimasco making way to the top