THE SITUATION at National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) remains dire as the parastatal still owes nine months’ salary to employees in arrears dating back to 2009, it has been learnt.
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NRZ public relations manager Fanuel Masikati confirmed to our sister paper NewsDay that the parastatal still owed its workers their dues.
“We still owe the workers nine months’ salary arrears as before, but the difference now is there is certainty as to the date when they receive something each month,” he said.
“The performance of the NRZ is related to the improvement of the economy. We are looking forward to the improvement of the economy, which hopefully will turn around our fortunes.”
There was hope that the Zanu PF government would immediately address the plight of workers which saw some spouses of employees at the parastatal demonstrating over the non-payment of salaries.
Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Obert Mpofu whose ministry the parastatal falls under, said although he had met the NRZ board of directors he was yet to familiarise himself with the company’s operations.
“I want to get first-hand information of what is happening in these parastatals that fall under my ministry and I am yet to do the familiarisation tour of the NRZ,” he said.
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“I will only be able to comment on that when I have done that tour. For now you can talk to management or the NRZ board or the permanent secretary.”
In May Bulawayo South MP Eddie Cross (MDC-T) told Parliament that the financially-troubled parastatal owed $46 million in unpaid salaries to its workers who were now wallowing in poverty.
“The railway workers have not been paid for eight months and NRZ owes them $46 million in salary arrears.
“Is it government policy not to pay workers?” Cross asked then.