Rio Zim dismisses closure claims
LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
LISTED diversified mining concern, Rio Zim has dismissed the closure claims,citing social media abusers as the spreaders of such malicious statements.
The development comes at a time when the company is at loggerheads with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) for foreign currency payments for its gold to support its operations.
The company is alleged to be closing its operations if the forex payments are not made.
Consequently, employees are believed to have been partly paid this month.
Rio Zim corporate affairs manager Wilson told Business Times that such social media claims need to be dismissed with contempt as such people behind this malice want to ruin our negotiations with authorities on viability issues.
“These statements are malicious and untrue, therefore we shall release a press statement condemning such social media claims.
“We like any company in Zimbabwe, are facing serious forex shortages causing operational challenges due to high costs of consumables and other materials but we are not closing or intend to do so,” said Gwatiringa.
He also said though there is no need to talk about employees payments, the mining company’s workers are happy and at work.
“I don’t want to talk about the nitty-gritties of the company but we are on sound footing but we hope the authorities will solve the current economic challenges in shortest possible time,” he said.
On the Mortar and Can mine tour, Rio Zim said the stakeholders will be updated in due course as the company is foçusing on operational issues at hand.
