adminThupeyo Mleya Beitbridge Bureau
A three-MONTH-LONG salary dispute between Costain Zimbabwe Limited and its employees has delayed the completion of the US$22 million National Social Security hotel project in Beitbridge. Costain Zimbabwe is the main contractor of the hotel and the ongoing stalemate has resulted in the opening of the 140-bed hotel being pushed to December from July.
NSSA is funding the construction of the building, which will be operated by the Rainbow Tourism Group upon its completion.
Costain workers who spoke to The Herald on condition of anonymity last week said they had stopped working, pending payment of their outstanding salaries.
The employees accused one of the company’s directors, Mr David Martins, of employing intimidatory tactics to silence them from demanding their outstanding salaries.
The company employed close to 60 workers for the project.
“We are very worried about the situation which is unfolding here, as 23 of us have been fired by Mr Martins for raising concerns over our outstanding salaries.
“When we approached him, he told us that NSSA had not yet paid them hence the delay in payment of our salaries.
“However, when we checked with NSSA they said this was not true. Most of the work was completed at the end of September but it seems our employer is no longer interested in paying us,” said one the workers.
The workers said they are now living in fear and are unsure of where their future lies, due to the impasse with their employer.
One of the workers said on average the majority of them earn between US$300 and US$500 per month.
However, he said for the past three months they had not been receiving their salaries and other benefits and they were not given any explanation by their employer, who instead was threatening them with dismissal.
He added that their employer was insisting on keeping them at the site camp where they are being provided with one meal per day.
Mr Martins refused to comment on the issue. NSSA spokesperson Mr Phillimon Chereni dismissed Costain’s claims.
Mr Chereni says they had paid the contractor in full and were keen to see the hotel open by December.
“We don’t owe Costain anything. As far as we are concerned we paid them their money.
“If they are disputing this they should give you figures and prove their case.
“We are now working on a few logistical issues and we are hopeful that the hotel will open its doors before the end of December,” he said.
On completion the hotel will house two banks – FBC and Stanbic – which have already started setting up their equipment.
The hotel will also have an ffice block, gym, swimming pool, casino, gazebo, several bars, coffee shops, a restaurant and three conference rooms.
The project is being implemented under the Government’s National Economic Development Priority Programme that was introduced in 2006, though civil works went a gear up last year.
Online Reporter