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Pamela Shumba Chronicle Reporter
BELEAGURED MDC-T, which has retrenched more than 100 workers across the country, has left only three officers at its Bulawayo provincial offices as donors continue deserting the crumbling party. Sources within the opposition party said the party had no choice but to retrench its scores of workers as donors who were frustrated by its pathetic performance in the 31 July harmonised elections were abandoning it.
The retrenchment exercise has affected all the party’s provinces and those based at its headquarters in Harare at Harvest House. The retrenched workers have been left fuming as they have been given pathetic exit packages of as little as $3 000.
Although the number of people that were retrenched in Bulawayo could not be ascertained yesterday officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the city office was left with three people. Among those retrenched were administrative assistant, Mr Sidumiso Mbambo, the provincial security officer, Mr Alexius Moyo, and a driver Mr Dumoluhle Thabethe.
Another worker, Mr Lucky Mlilo, whose position could not be established and several other workers were also shown the exit door.
The Bulawayo provincial information officer, Mr Henry Masuku was initially retrenched last week but was reconsidered and moved to Matabeleland North Province on the same post.
The provincial administrator, Mr Nkululeko Ndlovu, a driver and a security officer are the three workers left at the party’s Bulawayo office.
“Last week the party called a meeting for all staff members in Harare and it was announced that the party was planning to retrench workers and give them packages ranging from $5 000. We were told that the main reason the party was retrenching is because there is no money and activity since the party is not in power,” said one of the retrenched workers.
“At the weekend we were called and told to go to the offices and collect our packages. We were surprised when we were given just $3 000 each, which is peanuts.”
A senior official from the party confirmed that they were facing serious financial problems, saying the move was bound to create more divisions.
“I am still trying to understand how the retrenched workers were selected. Some useful people were laid off, while some who were doing nothing remained behind. This has worsened factionalism in the party because the retrenchment targeted certain individuals,” said a disgruntled retrenched worker.
Contacted for comment, the party’s spokesperson, Mr Douglas Mwonzora confirmed that more than 100 workers have been retrenched but dismissed reports that the exercise targeted certain individuals.
“The party went into an election and during the preparations we had to recruit more people. Naturally we had to downsize after the elections because our workforce had artificially gone high.
“However, we do have a number of workers who volunteered to be retrenched, some on medical grounds. Some of them even volunteered to provide services to the party on a voluntary basis. It is therefore not true that the retrenchment targeted some people,” said Mr Mwonzora.
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