Long wait for pay irks Marvo workers, as they go for 28 months without pay

Marvo stationary workers who have gone for 28 months now without pay have after the company was placed under judicial management have expressed disgust and impatience over the delays of their pay.

They are now asking as to how long they could wait as the judicial manager keeps on telling them that he is still looking for money.

"28 month without pay may sound unbelievable but its the truth" said one of the workers Mbonisi Gumbo who has since skipped the border to South Africa for greener pastures.  

"We have become slaves in our own Country  even during the Smith regime era it was not as painful as it is now, our children are not going to school, we are failing to pay rent, some are sick and they can't get medical attention because they are not able to pay Hospital bills, some have died during these trying times."

He said worse some still continued to go to work. "Last month we buried our work mate Mr Dlodlo who was 80years old he left all his back pays for 5 years and other benefits. Most painful part is that we went to West park cemetery by foot to bury our work mate  since he was staying at Vundu bachelor's flats it was difficult to hold a funeral service there; he was buried like a destitute yet he was employed for over 40 years at Marvo this is very unfair and totally unacceptable" he said.

He said over 150 workers are still working without pay and  the government has failed to rescue them.

"If it was because the company was struggling like many others it was going to be understandable but for Marvo the story is different we are simple failing to get paid because the Share Holders and management are not willing to pay us" he said.

"Mr Valela and others in 2012 got $758 000 - 00, a further $189 000 - 00 was released to them, all this money was applied for using Marvo. Once it was released by CABS the money disappeared from Marvo accounts into private accounts now they are using those funds to bring in imported goods from South Africa to Browns Stationery leaving Marvo with nothing. As we speak there is no Bulawayo City Council running water, no raw material, no vehicles, no nothing everything have been transferred to Browns. Mr Valela and his shareholders came up with their satanic ideas to rob us now they claim that the Company now belong to management."

He said now the Company is being run by a Judicial manager Mr C Mwete who is telling them to wait while he is looking for investors.

"How long must we wait we are tired of waiting?" He said.

"The Valelas are refusing to bring back part of the resources they looted from Marvo. We are now told that the case is going to court this time between Mr Mwete the Judicial manager and the Share holders. To prove that Marvo management and share holders are looting at Marvo how can they explain a situation where Marvo is making sales daily but there is no money in its accounts? Over the years some shelf companies are being used to loot money from Marvo have been opened they are Posmaston-b and Posmaston-Mutarah, Jaymez and finally Browns these are the companies which have all the Marvo money while we wallow in poverty."

He said as workers they will not rest until justice is done in their case and they will make noise until justice prevails.

"We believe that justice delayed is justice dined" said Gumbo.

Efforts to get comment from the judicial manager were fruitless.