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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
CONTRACT workers who have been serving Chipinge Town Council for more than 15 years are set to lose their jobs after the local authority resolved to lay off 63 unqualified employees.
Acting Chipinge Town Council secretary, Mr James Mutemera confirmed the development.
“Council had contract workers from as far back as 2008. They joined the council between 2008 and 2010 when most qualified employees left due to the economic challenges that were being faced during that time.
“Some pursued their studies and were engaged permanently. However, some still do not have the required qualifications. The council conducted a job evaluation, every council position has minimum qualifications.
“All unskilled workers, including contract workers, were given five years to study. We cannot continuously renew the contracts of these unqualified employees. We only need to hire contract workers as and when the need arises. The system must correct itself and evolve for the better to improve service delivery,” said Mr Mutemera.
He added: “The council formed a committee to carry out a research on the effects of terminating the contracts of these contract workers; how this will affect service delivery, the legal implications and the financial implications. The subcommittee is still ceased with the issue.
“While they have brought their preliminary research findings to council, the research team has been given up to August 31 to complete its work. After this date, council will make a decision.
“After that, council will write to the parent ministry. If the decision is approved, the continuous renewal of contract workers will end by December 31, 2021,” said Mr Mutemera.
However, Chipinge Residents Trust (CRT) chairperson, Mr Vhurande Mahlupeko said the laying off of Chipinge Town Council workers on the basis of ‘irrelevant’ qualifications is meaningless.
“CRT has learned with dismay that our council wants to fire 63 employees. Many of these employees have served for more than 15 years in their respective positions.
“Dismissing them will impact on the livelihoods of their families,” he said, adding that the move is ill-informed, given that most general workers do not need any academic qualifications in the execution of their duties.
“A general worker does not need paper qualifications to deliver services. The same town council lost previous labour cases with significant legal costs and had to pay their dues before reinstating them.
“To dismiss workers because of paper qualifications does not make any sense given that most of the MDC councillors at that council were not elected on the basis of their educational qualifications.
“These workers are also registered voters, many of whom voted these councillors into office. Firing employees in these trying economic times, further impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, shows heartlessness, inhumane and unprofessional behaviour by the council,” said Mr Mahlupeko.
He urged the local authority to focus on resolving water shortages, road maintenance, sewer maintenance, repairing of water drainage systems and the management of stray animals.
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