Categories: Stories

NRZ workers strike enters second week with no agreement in sight

The strike by workers of National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) workers entered its second week with no end in sight despite a promise by the parastatal’s chairman to pay part of their outstanding salaries “soon”.

The workers, who have gone for 15 months without pay, told NRZ board chairman Larry Mavima who was in Bulawayo to plead with them to return to work, that they would not end their strike until their demands are met.

Mavima told the workers that NRZ had recovered its $2.1 million debt from Grain Marketing Board (GMB) and would use that money to pay them.

“I came today to bring you money, not promises. We got an amount of about $2.1 million from GMB and that money will be disbursed by the management. Let’s go back to work. I am begging you, because if we continue with this strike, which is illegal by the way, we will not be able to meet our obligations,” Mavima said.

However, the workers, who are owed $68 million in unpaid wages, said the money was too little and they pressed him for details on how the money would be disbursed.

“We have been patient enough and now we are saying enough is enough. We want our monies because our children are no longer going to school. You can’t tell us to go back to work without giving us our monies. No money, no job,” said one worker.

Workers told Mavima that government needed to reduce the number of NRZ’s management team which they argued was top heavy.

NRZ is also saddled with a $144 million debt.

The NRZ is moving an average of three million tons of cargo annually compared to 12 million tons in 1992 and 19 million tons in 1997.

At least 93 percent of its revenue used to come from its freight services.- The Source

(51 VIEWS)

This post was last modified on %s = human-readable time difference 11:33 am

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Will Mnangagwa go against the trend in the region?

Plans by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa to…

October 22, 2024

The Zimbabwe government and not saboteurs sabotaging ZiG

The Zimbabwe government’s insatiable demand for money to satisfy its own needs, which has exceeded…

October 20, 2024

The Zimbabwe Gold will regain its value if the government does this…

Economist Eddie Cross says the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) will regain its value if the government…

October 16, 2024

Is Harare the least democratic province in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, which is a metropolitan province, is the least democratic province in the…

October 11, 2024

Zimbabweans against extension of presidential term in office

Nearly 80% of Zimbabweans are against the extension of the president’s term in office, according…

October 11, 2024

Zimbabwe government biggest loser when there is a discrepancy in the exchange rate

The government is the biggest loser when there is a discrepancy between the official exchange…

October 10, 2024