Workers say they have nothing to celebrate

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Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary-general Japhet Moyo yesterday said the theme for this year’s Workers’ Day commemorations, “Workers Under Siege, Arise and Fight” was the most appropriate as it highlights the grim situation faced by employees.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary-general Japhet Moyo
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary-general Japhet Moyo

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary-general Japhet Moyo yesterday said the theme for this year’s Workers’ Day commemorations, “Workers Under Siege, Arise and Fight” was the most appropriate as it highlights the grim situation faced by employees.

By Nqobani Ndlovu/Melody Chimhau

“The theme is appropriate in the wake of the company closures which left workers without jobs,” Moyo said in an interview.

Moyo’s comments came as most Bulawayo residents said they would commemorate today’s event with a deep sense of uncertainty because of the grinding poverty, job cuts and company closures with many workers now turned into vendors.

The commemorations come at a time the government has announced plans to trim its workforce as it battles an unsustainable civil service wage bill that is gobbling over 80% of its revenue.

Cowdray Park resident, Zacharia Tshuma, said Workers’ Day should be renamed to Vendors’ Day as most workers had turned to vending to sustain their families.

“There is no need to celebrate Workers’ Day because, honestly, how many workers are there?

“The industries are empty and the only people who will be celebrating Workers’ Day are vendors because many now survive by selling on street pavements,” Tshuma said.

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa
Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa

“It is now a calendar event, but there is nothing to celebrate. “How can the majority of people who are unemployed celebrate for a few individuals who are employed?”

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, in his 2015 National Budget presentation, said over 55 000 workers lost their jobs in the past three years as companies closed.

Augustine Ncube of Old Magwegwe who works as a security guard said he did not see any reason to celebrate.

“As a worker, I see no reason to celebrate as I am struggling to make ends meet,” he said.

“We have not had salary increments for a long time to enable us to provide for our families.”