Illegal demonstration security guards remanded out of custody

THREE security guards who last week staged an illegal demonstration over poor salaries have been released on bail pending trial.

Last Danga, Dzimudzi Feremba and Kholwani Tshuma are facing two counts of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breach of peace in contravening section 37 (a) (i) (ii) of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act. The three were granted bail on their own cognisance to 19 June.

The industrial action began last Friday with most workers resisting reporting for duty citing incapacitation.

According to the secretary general of the Private Security Workers’ Union, Mr John Manyuchi, most security companies were failing to address the workers’ concerns.

“This is a serious cause of concern. We cannot keep providing security services for nothing. It’s unfortunate that we have had to take this route,” he said.

“We understand that we have some of our members that have been picked up by police and are presently being held in connection with our motive. Our members were picked up at our offices and we do not know the charges. Apparently, they are being accused of staging an illegal demo in areas around Makokoba.”

Mr Manyuchi said the highest paid security guard was earning an equivalent of less than US$150 in local currency.

“After deductions they take home between US$60-US$75 a month. They are expected to execute their duties diligently, but we are not taking this,” he said.

Mr Manyuchi said the three arrested security personnel were members of the national security union.

“We are yet to get finer details about what is happening, but we will not stop and we will have our voices heard,” he said.

The strike began last Friday with some security guards alleged to have been moving around security companies instilling fear among their colleagues.

A security guard who spoke on condition of anonymity said some of them were now forced to wear civilian clothes instead of their uniforms, as trade unionists threatened to “take action against them” in their “unsanctioned” motive.