admin
The workers who are reportedly owed three months salary downed tools on Monday to press management to pay them their outstanding salaries.
The strike by workers paralysed most council operations. The decision by the union leaders to sanction the industrial action during the ZITF was probably deliberately timed to inflict the gravest impact but what the leadership overlooked was the broader implication of such action.
The ZITF, apart from facilitating trade between companies, both local and foreign, provides a platform for the country to market itself to the outside world as an investment destination.
It is at ZITF that the country should demonstrate to the outside world why it should be considered as an investment destination of first choice. The towns and cities also take the opportunity to demonstrate to potential investors why they should be chosen as investment destinations ahead of others.
Bulawayo, by being the host city, has an edge over others in that investors need not be told the facilities and services it offers because most of the exhibitors are staying in the city for the duration of the fair and will therefore have first hand experience.
It is unfortunate that the council workers have decided to spoil the party for the city by going on strike during trade fair. We have already alluded to the fact that the workers’ leaders did not see beyond payment of salaries.
The council workers know too well that the city witnessed a huge cut on its revenue during the last decade as a result of many companies that closed or relocated to other cities. The city’s de-industrialisation even prompted Government to set up an inter-ministerial taskforce to investigate the root cause of challenges facing Bulawayo industries.
Bulawayo is therefore one of the cities that is crying out for new investment but this new investment can only come if the city demonstrates that it is better in terms of service delivery than other cities and towns.
Investors are reluctant to invest in a city or town where there is chaos. The message being sent by the workers’ strike is that there is chaos in the city and this obviously scares away potential investors. We do appreciate the plight of workers who have gone for three months without salaries when they have families to fend for, rentals, electricity and water bills to pay as well as raise money for transport to work.
Council like any other employer has an obligation to pay salaries as and when due. What, however, is not in dispute is that council, just like many other employers, is finding it difficult to meet this obligation because of the general poor performance of the country’s economy.
There are many companies and councils that have gone for several months without paying workers because they are facing liquidity challenges. It is unfortunate that Bulawayo City Council workers decided to strike at a time when the world’s focus is on Zimbabwe and Bulawayo in particular.
The workers should return to work as soon as possible and they can only do so if council management comes up with concrete plans to address the salary backlog. Bulawayo cannot afford to spoil opportunities to attract new investors to the city during this week and action is needed now to preserve the city’s image.
We want to once again implore workers and council management to find common ground bearing in mind that ZITF only comes once a year.
Online Reporter