The Sunday News
Shepias Dube Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority has threatened to dismiss 89 workers who embarked on a protest at various premises across the country a few weeks ago demanding that management address the issue of a salary backlog that has now accumulated to more than $6 million. Most of the affected workers are from the Gwayi and Mzingwane catchment areas who staged the sit-in at the Bulawayo offices.
“I can confirm that Zinwa management has taken workers to the Labour Court on allegations of staging an illegal strike on the 13th of this month. Eighty nine workers have been identified as ring leaders and are likely to be fired if found guilty,” Zinwa Workers’ Committee national chairman Mr Zuze Parakasingwa told Sunday Business last Friday.
He said he attended the court session on Thursday on behalf of workers accused of staging the strike.
Mr Parakasingwa said management had since applied for a show cause order from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare so that they may be granted permission to conduct internal hearings and implement some disciplinary measures on perceived perpetrators.
A show cause order is requested by an employer under section 106 of the Labour Act and is granted where workers would have organised and staged an illegal job action or strike.
However, Mr Parakasingwa dismissed accusations levelled against workers by management and insisted that the workers never staged or contemplated going for a job action.
“As the national chairman I don’t really know where management got the false information that workers went on strike two weeks ago. What I know is that workers from all the seven catchment areas had requested management to come and address them on the issue of outstanding salaries. We just assembled for a few hours and when we realised that management was not forthcoming we went back to work,” he said.
When Sunday Business news crew visited Zinwa workshop in Bulawayo on the day of the alleged strike workers were gathered at the front office but quickly dispersed after they were addressed by Mr Christopher Nkomo who identified himself as the human resources officer.
However, management, in response to questions sent by Sunday Business, was adamant that there was a strike organised and carried out by some Zinwa employees.
“Our response is that we confirm that there was a strike by some employees and the issue is now before the courts. We cannot discuss the issue further as it is before the courts,” company spokesperson Ms Majorie Munyonga said on Friday.
Outspoken legislator Cde Joseph Chinotimba who is also the president of the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) advised Zinwa against the dismissal of workers arguing that workers were being pushed to take such actions because of poverty.
“I don’t think it will be good for Zinwa to fire these workers even if they are found guilty in the Labour Court. Employers must understand that it is difficult to go to work and get nothing at the end of the month,” he said.
Zinwa is yet to pay its workers the February and March salaries despite its pledge that it would pay its workers on time this year.
The authority also owes workers more than $6 million in salary arrears which accumulated over last year.
