9,000 workers laid off

Nearly 9 000 workers were retrenched in 2015 and 2016 as it emerged that 26 companies have retrenched workers this month, signaling the deepening economic crisis which continues to take its toll on struggling firms.

The revelations come at a time the economy is in the doldrums with a debilitating liquidity crunch evidenced by the acute cash shortage in the market, low capacity utilization of less than 50% and the closure of more than 260 companies from various sectors of the economy last year alone.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary-general Japhet Moyo said a total of 8 843 workers were laid off in 2015 and 2016.