NRZ evicts ex-workers

News
MORE than 50 former National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) employees were yesterday left homeless after being evicted from the parastatal’s houses in Westgate, Bulawayo.

MORE than 50 former National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) employees were yesterday left homeless after being evicted from the parastatal’s houses in Westgate, Bulawayo.

MTHANDAZO NYONI/LINDA CHINOBVA

Families were huddled outside when a Southern Eye crew visited the premises at around 7pm after the Messenger of Court and armed police threw out their property and locked the doors.

The former workers said NRZ should have first paid them $35 000 each as compensation before evicting them from the houses because they had received no severance packages since leaving work.

“We are not going anywhere unless NRZ pays us our monies. We need them to pay us at least $35 000 as compensation. Where will we go from here? If they pay us our monies, we do not have a problem with them. We will just vacate their premises as soon as possible,” said a former employee.

Among the evicted were senior citizens and children.

Some parents said they had school going children writing exams this year and the eviction would have a negative impact on their studies.

The former workers’ property, which included wardrobes, beds, kitchen units, electrical gadgets and kitchen utensils, among other items, was strewn outside the houses that were guarded by NRZ security officers armed with truncheons and vicious dogs.

NRZ public relations manager Fanuel Masikati could not be reached for comment.