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Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
POLICE in Bulawayo have blocked a demonstration organised by striking NRZ workers, saying the salary dispute between the parastatal and its employees has been well publicised.
The NRZ employees whose strike enters day 53 today, applied for permission to hold demonstrations against the government and the NRZ in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare yesterday.
Police in Harare approved the Harare march.
The parastatal has not paid full salaries for the past 15 months.
In a letter written to the NRZ Bulawayo employees, the police said the challenges bedevilling NRZ could be resolved internally without demonstrating.
“The salary dispute is well publicised hence demonstrating will not be a lasting solution. The workers’ representatives can deliver petitions without marching into the streets.
“Your intended demonstration might be infiltrated by bad elements considering the number of participants. Our office can’t guarantee the security of the participants under those circumstances,” reads part of the letter.
“The office encourages you to observe issues agreed. You’re expected to cooperate with the police and other government agents,” reads part of the letter in response to the workers.
Meanwhile, NRZ on Thursday once again urged workers to report for work.
“All employees are hereby advised that the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Prisca Mupfumira issued a show cause order on May 11, 2016 against all striking employees.
“Pending the determination of this matter I further direct that the collective job action be terminated immediately,” said the acting general manager Lewis Mukwada, in a notice dated May 19, 2016.
Mukwada said as provided by the Labour Act, failure to comply with a Show Cause order was a crimina offence.
“The criminal offence is punishable by a fine not exceeding level seven or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or both.
“In these circumstances, all striking employees are enjoined to report for and resume their duties, failing which management shall invoke appropriate provisions of the Labour Act, the NRZ code of conduct as well as other applicable laws,” said Mukwada.
The workers have vowed not to resume work until they are paid outstanding salaries.
They told Chronicle yesterday that the $3 million that was reportedly availed by the government to pay salary arrears had not reached their pockets.
More than 4,000 NRZ workers across the country downed tools, bringing to a halt operations including the transportation of imported wheat and drought relief maize.
The ailing parastatal, which is saddled with a $144 million debt with the workers owed about $68 million, continues to experience declining freight volumes, which have negatively impacted on income.
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