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More than 120 Gwanda Municipality workers who included ambulance drivers, those that collect refuse and municipal police spent the whole day sitting outside the municipal offices.
The workers were carrying placards written different messages directed to the council’s top management.
Some of the placards read: “Sifuna imali yethu khathesi (give us our money now) and since March, April and May singaholanga lithi sidla ngaphi.”
They criticised management whom they accused of driving expensive cars while they suffered.
Workers in lower grades who had just received their April salaries joined the strike demanding to be paid all outstanding money.
The management had arranged a meeting with the workers committee and Labour officials at 2pm.
The workers said it was not true that council had no money to pay salaries.
One of the workers, Mr Sipho Ndlovu, said the problem was mismanagement at the council.
“It is always the language of the management that there is no money but this time we will not accept that because there is no transparency. Some people come to do contract jobs and get paid but we are always told there is no money despite having been loyal to the council for a long time. We want proof that there is no money,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Another employee who spoke on condition of anonymity said he received his April salary but would only go back to work after the council had paid him his May salary.
“We have realised that these people are taking advantage of us. They told us that there was no money but when we decided to strike, they deposited some money in our accounts to silence us.
“We have been suffering for the past three months and we want our money today. Some workers have been evicted from their lodgings by their landlords for not paying rent, which makes life difficult because accommodation is scarce in Gwanda. I want all my money today,” said a worker.
Gwanda Town Clerk Mr Gilbert Mlilo, confirmed that the workers had not received their money for the past three months and said the local authority was facing financial challenges hence the salary backlog.
“We are in arrears because of the many challenges we are facing as a local authority. The council is owed more than $4 million by ratepayers and as a result we are failing to fulfil our obligations such as paying workers,” he said.
Mr Mlilo said council fulfilled its undertaking to pay workers in the lower grades first.
The council has 173 workers with the lowest paid worker reportedly earning about $200.
“We have 173 workers but I am yet to check how many are on strike. We have, however dispatched someone to Harare to follow up on some debts and there are some positive responses so far. We are also meeting this afternoon at the Labour Court to see how we can solve the issue,” said Mr Mlilo.
He said council wanted to reduce the arrears to just one month.
Meanwhile, in a bid to raise the workers’ salaries, the local authority disconnected water supplies to its residents.
A quick survey in Jahunda and Phakama suburbs revealed that even residents owing about $50 were disconnected.
In Victoria Falls, employees downed tools for the second time in two weeks demanding their outstanding salaries amid revelations the cash-strapped council cannot afford the new $300 000 wage bill against the monthly revenue collection of less than $270 000.
Workers said management had promised to clear the outstanding salaries on 5 June.
Chronicle visited the council offices and saw some of the disgruntled employees milling around while others were seated on the lawn.
Sources in management said trouble for the municipality started when the Labour Court ruled that the employees be given a 32 percent salary increase in August last year.
The source said as a result, the council wage bill sky-rocketed to $300 000 from about $170 000 for the 312 workers.
“The reality on the ground is that the municipality cannot afford the new salary structure. During salary bargaining, council had indicated that it was comfortable with paying the workers between $120 and $168 salary increments depending on one’s grade but now has to pay between $150 and $220,” said the source.
The source said the local authority had applied for a $250 000 loan from a local bank but that would not make a difference.
“We applied for a loan two months ago and up to now nothing has materialised. Even if it is released, it will not even cover the salary bill which stands at more than $300 000,” said the official.
He said the municipality retained the 2011 budget that was $8,5 million — the same figure council had for the 2010 budget.
“We retained the 2010/2011 budget because we are aware that the economy is not performing well. We were shocked by the ruling by the Labour Court president because we really are not performing. Council has no money as we are getting less than $300 000 from residents and other stakeholders monthly.
“It means if we are forced to stick to this wage bill we will fail to even purchase water chemicals, take our vehicles for repairs and service our debts,” said the source.
Contacted for comment, Town Clerk, Mr Godfrey Maphosa confirmed they were negotiating with the workers.
He, however, denied that the employees had gone on strike, saying the municipality was in the process of addressing all the issues bedevilling the local authority.
“Right now, all I can say is that there are indeed negotiations going on between us and the workers’ representatives. About the loan, I cannot comment right now until I talk to the finance people.
“In fact we are going to have meetings as management after which I will have a response for you,” said Mr Maphosa.
Online Reporter