adminLovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
GWERU City Council workers yesterday booted out the Erasmus Ndonga-led local chapter of the Zimbabwe Urban Council Workers’ Union (ZCWU) alleging that they were not representing their interests.
The employees immediately set up an interim executive led by Silas Mutendeudzwa which was tasked to draw a roadmap which will pave way for fresh elections to usher in a new leadership.
Other members of the new executive are Paul Moyana who is the vice chairman while Simbarashe Leboho comes in as secretary and Shonhiwa Nechiwowe has been tasked with keeping the interim executive’s purse.
Kudzai Zivurawa, Frank Muzorera, Komborero Semende and Tendai Masarire come in as committee members.
Mutendeudzwa accused the deposed executive of colluding with council management which has compromised the workers’ welfare.
“There has been no feedback from the workers’ representatives whom we have sent with our grievances and as we speak we have not received our October salaries and we don’t know when we are going to get paid. Our pensions, medical aid and funeral contributions are in arrears. These are some of the issues we raised but have received no response. Schools have opened and we do not know how we are going to pay school fees.
“The workers’ executive has been bribed by the management because they are defending council management instead of pushing them to address workers’ grievances,” he said.
Mutendeudzwa said they will immediately suspend their contributions to the union until a new leadership is in place.
He said a petition to that effect has already been signed by 300 of the 1,200 council workers.
The interim executive has since written to government advising them of the development.
The letter has since been copied to the town clerk, Daniel Matawu.
Ndonga could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was not reachable while the secretary, Kudakwashe Munengiwa, was said to be out of the country.
Online Reporter