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The demonstration by workers came after management at the cash strapped council indicated there would be no bonuses for the workers this year.
The demonstration started at 9am with workers toyi-toying right round the town house much to the amusement of members of the public.
Some managers could be seen peeping through their windows with the workers shouting obscenities and at times calling them by names.
“Matawu tati buda titaurirane, Matawu tati buda toda bonus yedu (Town clerk Daniel Matawu, get out of his office and address us we want our bonuses),”  some of the workers were overheard saying.

Some were so daring that they sat on top of bonnets of vehicles belonging to the council bosses, which were parked outside the town house.
As the demonstration threatened to turn violent, two police officers then arrived to monitor the situation.
The Gweru Workers Committee leadership later managed to bring some order when it directed the workers to sit down so that they could be addressed.

In an interview, Gweru Council Workers Committee chairman, Mr Rabson Kilimboi Nsingo, said the workers decided to down tools after their salary and bonuses negotiations with management collapsed.
“At Gweru City Council, it seems we no longer have a payday. We have not been getting our full salaries for some months now and at times we get those salaries one or two weeks after the end of month. On the contrary the management and councillors are allocating themselves hefty salaries and allowances, but the same management still has the guts to tell us that they are broke,” he said.

Mr Nsingo said what was more shocking to the workers was that council management was not willing to pay them their bonuses this year.
“When we engaged them over our salaries and bonuses early this week, they told us that there was no money in the council coffers. It is, however, surprising that the same council is sending all councillors for some end-of-year holiday and the first batch of councillors to go on such a retreat is leaving today for Victoria Falls,” fumed Mr Nsingo.

However, there is an Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe meeting which is being attended by many local authorities in Victoria Falls. The meeting begins today.
Mr Nsingo said council workers would continue with the strike until their grievances have been addressed.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Matawu and the Mayor, Councillor Tedious Chimombe, were fruitless as their mobile phones were not reachable.

Deputy Mayor, Clr Taurai Demo said council was not in a position to pay workers their bonuses at the moment.
“It seems these workers are crying for  a 13th cheque when they are yet to   receive their eleventh cheque. Council formerly communicated to them in the meeting early this week that there is no money. Every council is struggling   and Gweru is struggling to make available  to the workers salaries for November and yet they start demanding bonuses,” he said.

Clr Demo said the strike by the workers was illegal.
“The council’s position is that there are no bonuses in November and this was formerly communicated to the workers through their representatives. The issue will be addressed next month. Our human resources manager is going to take corrective measures through the Labour Court over the strike which is illegal,” he said.