The workers have confided in us that some of them sustained various injuries while at work in 2021, further adding that efforts to engage the company and district labour office appear to be bearing no fruits.

"It's painful that some of us we sustained life-long injuries and partially incapacitated. When we ask, the company seems not to care about our plight," some of the workers claimed.

Meanwhile, speaking to Zodiak Online on Saturday, the company's group finance manager, Sangwani Hara requested for a list of people making the claims to cross-check if they are real workers and got injured including their work divisions for the compensation process to be followed.

"Some people have been claiming to be working for us when they are not. So bring the list of people to us or alternatively check with the district labour office," he said.

However, Thyolo district assistant labour officer, Dorothy Chataika has confirmed such a figure of complaints, but indicated that they are in talks with the company which is assuring to settle the compensations once it's insurer finalises processing them.

"We are aware of this issue. The injured people who are about 100 have been coming complaining about the outstanding worker's compensation money at Makandi. We have been communicating with the company and has been assuring us that they will pay as soon as they receive the money from their insurance company," Chataika confirmed.

Records show that from January 2022 to March this year, Thyolo District Labour office had recorded 810 labour related complaints with about 95 percent of 715 injuries registered in the tea industry.