News / National
Ex-Zupco workers plan court action over outstanding pay
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Former workers of the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) have raised serious concerns over the company's failure to pay outstanding salaries, some of which date back to July last year. The disgruntled employees claim that despite working for the once-dominant public transport company, they have only been compensated in local currency, Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), instead of the agreed-upon US dollars.
One former worker revealed that the last payment received in US dollars was in June of the previous year. "I left the company in May this year, and since then, they have been failing to settle my arrears," the worker said.
Another employee voiced frustrations with the lack of communication from Zupco management. "We have formed a group of former workers, and we are planning to engage lawyers to recover our outstanding salaries," the worker added, highlighting the prolonged issue.
For many, the situation has become unbearable. One woman, who frequently visits the Zupco depot in Bulawayo, shared her experience of being shunted from office to office when attempting to address the issue of her unpaid wages. "Whenever I try to speak to the managers, they treat me poorly, and I'm often told that the people responsible for finance are unavailable," she said. "We've not even received an apology or any communication about our unpaid salaries, and we are suffering."
The workers' grievances come amid broader concerns regarding Zupco's financial stability. In May, NewsDay reported that former and current employees accused Zupco's management of widespread corruption, including allegations of financial mismanagement and efforts to conceal these issues through manipulated reports.
Zupco, which once enjoyed a public transport monopoly during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and 2021, has been struggling to recover. The company was recently placed under the Mutapa Investment Fund as part of the government's efforts to rescue the financially troubled state enterprise.
Workers also raised alarms about potential retrenchments as a cover-up ahead of a possible audit. They also highlighted alleged financial irregularities, including discrepancies in the issuing of diesel and receipts. According to the workers, the ruling Zanu-PF party allegedly paid for buses hired during election campaigns last year using diesel and money, but these resources were allegedly diverted for personal gain by senior officials.
Zupco's Kelvin depot manager, Melody Dege, declined to comment when contacted by NewsDay. "I cannot comment on the issue of the unpaid salaries over the phone," she said.
As the dispute drags on, former workers are becoming increasingly desperate, with many facing mounting financial challenges due to the unpaid wages. The situation calls into question the long-term viability of Zupco and the transparency of its financial management practices as it struggles to meet its obligations to its employees.
One former worker revealed that the last payment received in US dollars was in June of the previous year. "I left the company in May this year, and since then, they have been failing to settle my arrears," the worker said.
Another employee voiced frustrations with the lack of communication from Zupco management. "We have formed a group of former workers, and we are planning to engage lawyers to recover our outstanding salaries," the worker added, highlighting the prolonged issue.
For many, the situation has become unbearable. One woman, who frequently visits the Zupco depot in Bulawayo, shared her experience of being shunted from office to office when attempting to address the issue of her unpaid wages. "Whenever I try to speak to the managers, they treat me poorly, and I'm often told that the people responsible for finance are unavailable," she said. "We've not even received an apology or any communication about our unpaid salaries, and we are suffering."
Zupco, which once enjoyed a public transport monopoly during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and 2021, has been struggling to recover. The company was recently placed under the Mutapa Investment Fund as part of the government's efforts to rescue the financially troubled state enterprise.
Workers also raised alarms about potential retrenchments as a cover-up ahead of a possible audit. They also highlighted alleged financial irregularities, including discrepancies in the issuing of diesel and receipts. According to the workers, the ruling Zanu-PF party allegedly paid for buses hired during election campaigns last year using diesel and money, but these resources were allegedly diverted for personal gain by senior officials.
Zupco's Kelvin depot manager, Melody Dege, declined to comment when contacted by NewsDay. "I cannot comment on the issue of the unpaid salaries over the phone," she said.
As the dispute drags on, former workers are becoming increasingly desperate, with many facing mounting financial challenges due to the unpaid wages. The situation calls into question the long-term viability of Zupco and the transparency of its financial management practices as it struggles to meet its obligations to its employees.
Source - newsday
