Makwiro Platinum has begun legal action against a union which instigated a strike at the Zimbabwean company last month.

The firm is seeking $1.5 billion in damages for losses incurred as a result of the action, with the claim emanating in the wake of a statement from the Labour Court denouncing the strike as illegal.

Makwiro insists that the union leaders are in the wrong, with HR manager Shapestone Zindi warning that they have "unnecessarily injured and prejudiced" the company through their actions.

In his founding affidavit Mr Zindi added that it is "only just and fair that [they] be liable for their conduct".

The union president, Mr Edmund Tinago, has criticised the legal action, warning that it was undemocratic to try to stifle the rights of workers to protest.

If the Zimbabwean-based firm wins the case it could potentially prompt a flood of similar cases against unions deemed to have engaged in illegitimate action.

Miners went on nationwide strike at the company at the start of October after talks collapsed.