Unpaid council workers petition minister

Yeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
Harare City Council workers, who have gone for three months without pay, have petitioned Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo to intervene to prevent a strike. In the petition, Harare Municipality Workers’ Union executive chairman Mr Cosmas Bungu said workers are desperate and contemplating industrial action.

“The background of this matter is that the HCC is seriously running behind on salary payments for grades 5 to 16. They have not yet received salaries for May, June and July.

“The situation is so desperate that the employees are advocating collective job action, go slow or any other action that would compel the city to clear the salary arrears,” he said.

Mr Bungu said if not resolved, the situation would tarnish the new dispensation’s drive to open up the country for business.
“As leaders we have been fighting very hard to prevent such an action, which will be detrimental to the Zimbabwe Is Open for Business mantra.

“Harare is the window to the nation and any disruptions of services would adversely affect the trajectory that the new dispensation has taken.

“Conversely, any non-payment of wages results in a disgruntled workforce that has a real potential of damaging the country’s reputation and showcasing a Zimbabwe and a capital city that has no adequate services and that is not ready to house all the potential investments.”

In the past the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Planning would come to the city’s assistance by offering its funds for the salaries.

The City would in turn, open an account where specific deposits would made to repay the Ministry. The workers are owed $20 million.

“The workers’ leaders are appealing for similar assistance you have offered in the past backed by the same repayment arrangements. A sum of $20 million will go a long way in mitigating this perilous situation. The City’s treasury department in a position to confirm that such a sum can be redeemed in three months period,” said Mr Bangu in the petition sent to the minister.