News / National
NRZ demonstrations blocked by police
01 Aug 2014 at 05:32hrs | Views
POLICE have barred National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) workers in Bulawayo and Harare from holding planned peaceful demonstrations tomorrow to protest non-payment of salaries.
The police turned down the workers' request for permission to assemble for the demonstrations to highlight their plight saying the protests were likely to turn violent. The workers said they were owed huge amounts as they had not been paid since last year.
September 2013 salaries were due yesterday, but no deposits had been made into the workers' bank accounts by late afternoon.
Zimbabwe Railways Artisans' Union president Shardrack Mutakura told Southern Eye yesterday that NRZ workers were now "worthless due to grinding poverty" affecting them.
"Since dollarisation in 2009, we have not been getting full salaries. As and when they are deposited, it would not be full pay," he said.
"As workers, we had hoped that the demonstrations countrywide would help highlight our plight to the public and chéfs, but police have barred us in Bulawayo and Harare. In Gweru the go-ahead is with conditions."
Mutakura said by yesterday afternoon, September 2013 salaries were yet to be paid.
"How can ZimAsset succeed when workers of an economic kingpin entity go for months without pay? As workers, we feel that conditions we went through in 2009 have improved and the company is getting revenue," he added. According to a letter by Bulawayo police dated July 28, the cops expressed fears of violence.
The workers had intended to march from the main railway station to the City Hall car park.
"Information at hand shows that there is strong apprehension towards groups opposed to the government. Hooligans may join in the procession with intent of disrupting the whole process," police claimed.
"Marching along the streets may also lead to provocation with the other labour bodies leading to clashes thereby endangering the public and property in the central business district.
"The proposed date also coincides with planned operations by the police which will consume a lot of manpower, hence cannot take charge of the event in the circumstances."
In Gweru, police said workers should only confine themselves to the Civic Centre as they had limited manpower due to the Midlands Agricultural Show.
"On the 2nd of August 2014, Gweru city will be hosting a Midlands Provincial show and all our police officers will be deployed at the venue of the show where some government ministers will be present. Police cycle unit which is normally used for escorts will be engaged in the displays at the show," police said.
NRZ acting general manager Lewis Mukwada this week told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development in Bulawayo that they owed workers $55 million in unpaid salaries.
He said NRZ pinned its hopes on the $460 million loan facility from a South African financial institution for the recapitalisation of the rail entity.
The police turned down the workers' request for permission to assemble for the demonstrations to highlight their plight saying the protests were likely to turn violent. The workers said they were owed huge amounts as they had not been paid since last year.
September 2013 salaries were due yesterday, but no deposits had been made into the workers' bank accounts by late afternoon.
Zimbabwe Railways Artisans' Union president Shardrack Mutakura told Southern Eye yesterday that NRZ workers were now "worthless due to grinding poverty" affecting them.
"Since dollarisation in 2009, we have not been getting full salaries. As and when they are deposited, it would not be full pay," he said.
"As workers, we had hoped that the demonstrations countrywide would help highlight our plight to the public and chéfs, but police have barred us in Bulawayo and Harare. In Gweru the go-ahead is with conditions."
Mutakura said by yesterday afternoon, September 2013 salaries were yet to be paid.
"How can ZimAsset succeed when workers of an economic kingpin entity go for months without pay? As workers, we feel that conditions we went through in 2009 have improved and the company is getting revenue," he added. According to a letter by Bulawayo police dated July 28, the cops expressed fears of violence.
"Information at hand shows that there is strong apprehension towards groups opposed to the government. Hooligans may join in the procession with intent of disrupting the whole process," police claimed.
"Marching along the streets may also lead to provocation with the other labour bodies leading to clashes thereby endangering the public and property in the central business district.
"The proposed date also coincides with planned operations by the police which will consume a lot of manpower, hence cannot take charge of the event in the circumstances."
In Gweru, police said workers should only confine themselves to the Civic Centre as they had limited manpower due to the Midlands Agricultural Show.
"On the 2nd of August 2014, Gweru city will be hosting a Midlands Provincial show and all our police officers will be deployed at the venue of the show where some government ministers will be present. Police cycle unit which is normally used for escorts will be engaged in the displays at the show," police said.
NRZ acting general manager Lewis Mukwada this week told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development in Bulawayo that they owed workers $55 million in unpaid salaries.
He said NRZ pinned its hopes on the $460 million loan facility from a South African financial institution for the recapitalisation of the rail entity.
Source - Southern Eye
