No reasons to celebrate workers day in Zimbabwe - Abednico Bhebhe

The MDC-T organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe have said there is no reason why workers should be celebrated in Zimbabwe as thousands of people if not millions continue to lose their jobs due to continuous closure of industries. Of late the government has closed down Telecel Zimbabwe which means in a month's time the workers who were in that company will be jobless.

"No reason to celebrate Workers Day...It is sad to note that Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world tomorrow to commemorate the Workers Day when there are no workers, literally, as many have been rendered jobless," said Bhebhe.

"Over 55 000 workers have lost their jobs in the past three years, according to Finance Minister, Patrick Chinamasa."

He said Chinamasa said in 2011, 2 130 companies' closed and 19 191 workers lost jobs. In 2012, 1 464 companies shut down, leaving 20 825 employees jobless.

"In 2013, 878 companies closed shop rendering 14 499 jobless and in 2014, 134 firms shut down throwing 9 280 people out of work," said Bhebhe.

"I believe these are just conservative statements from the Treasury chief. A visit to Bulawayo's once busy Belmont industrial area tells a grim story of de-industrialization where company properties have been turned into churches.

Bulawayo was the industrial hub of the country, but all has been turned into ruins by none other than the worlds' oldest and Africa's third longest serving ruler - Robert Mugabe."

Bhebhe said there is nothing to celebrate on May 1 for those still employed, the majority of whom are civil servants, some of them Mugabe's ghost workers - read militias.

"Civil servants are depressed and demoralised by poor salaries and uncertainty over their jobs as Chinamasa wants to retrench thousands to manage his ballooning wage bill," said Bhebhe.

"There is nothing to celebrate as those still employed by private companies face retrenchment, and are not being paid in time or not paid altogether. "There is nothing to celebrate as families go hungry since many a breadwinner has been rendered jobless, or is struggling to make ends meet with poor pay, or no pay at all."

Bhebhe said this is a hallmark of Mugabe's unmatched economic mismanagement. The Workers Day tomorrow is a sad cruel reminder of the harsh situation facing workers in the country.