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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
THE city of Gweru has virtually shut down with taps running dry and uncollected litter piling up as the municipal workers’ strike, which has paralysed council operations, entered its ninth day yesterday.

Raw sewage is flowing in the streets in residential areas from unattended sewer bursts and council run clinics have been closed.

Council officials yesterday warned of a looming water crisis as engineers abandoned their work stations at Gwenoro Dam where the city gets its water.

At the same time, workers at the water treatment plant at the Range Booster in Ivene suburb have also joined the strike.

So far, villages 14, 15, 21 in Mkoba suburb and parts of the central business district have run out of water.

The striking workers, who include nurses, refuse collectors, office clerks, firemen and security guards, have been on industrial action since last Monday demanding their 2014 bonuses, salaries, back pay and protective clothing.

They have been gathering at the Town House everyday from as early as 7AM and dispersing at 5PM.

Gweru is home to big institutions such as the Midlands State University (MSU), Mkoba Teacher’s College and has a population of over 300,000 people, most of whom rely on council water.

The Chronicle yesterday observed that the usually clean city resembled a huge rubbish dump as vendors, companies and residents dumped litter everywhere.

A resident, Kudakwashe Ncube, said the city had become a health time bomb.

“It would be a miracle if we don’t have a cholera outbreak. Travellers who use Kudzanai Bus Terminus risk getting diseases as blocked toilets continue releasing effluent into the terminus while the surface is littered with rubbish,” said Ncube.

Vendors yesterday teamed up and burnt garbage at makeshift dump sites at the terminus as well as at the TM Supermarket local terminus.

The rubbish was spilling into roads.

The Mayor, Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi confirmed that there were no workers to assist with pumping water at Gwenoro Dam and at the water treatment plant in Ivene.

He said the situation was bad as the city would soon run dry. Cllr Kombayi said the local authority was still engaging the striking workers as well as the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare in the hope of reaching an amicable solution.

“It’s so sad that the strike has come to this with the workers holding council to ransom. We’re also waiting for a disposal order from the Ministry of Labour since we feel the strike is illegal,” he said.

Cllr Kombayi said a health hazard was looming considering that garbage had not been collected for over a week.

He said the striking workers were taking the law into their own hands and closing water supplies even at companies which had payment plans with council.

“The revenue halls are closed and council isn’t receiving a cent. They’re disconnecting water at businesses without council approval and tomorrow they say they want their salaries. Where will we get the salaries when they’re doing this?” asked Cllr Kombayi.

He also took to the social media forum and used his Facebook page to threaten the workers with dismissal.

Cllr Kombayi had given the workers an ultimatum to return to work by 10:30AM yesterday but they ignored it.

“As the mayor of Gweru I’m saying to all Gweru City Council employees, if you don’t report for work by 10.30 AM you’re fired. You can’t hold the city of Gweru to ransom. I will make a resolution that Grade one Notch one gets $250 plus transport and house benefits. I will start to employ so I can clean Gweru. I’m sweeping, I’m removing all rubbish. I will be moving around and if the boss don’t make registered proof (sic) you’re fired. (We will) meet in court (there are) plenty people who want work (sic),” wrote Cllr Kombayi

The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in the Midlands province, Cde Jason Machaya called on the management and the striking workers to put an end to the ongoing strike.

Machaya said it was unfortunate that the residents were the biggest losers due to the strike.

He said he had meetings with authorities including officials from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare with a view to ending the strike.

He said he had been assured that council and employees would soon reach a consensus.

The workers committee secretary general, Frank Muzorera said they had commenced a full blown strike which he said was going to paralyse council operations.

“We’ve closed the hospitals and we’re striking until our demands are met,” he said.

Besides the December salaries, workers at the financially crippled municipality are saying that they are yet to be paid back pay from April to July 2014.

On Friday last week the council workers impounded a council minibus before they went to Fairmile Motel, government schools and the government complex which houses Machaya’s office where they disconnected water supplies without management’s approval. On Tuesday they disconnected water supplies at Bata Shoe Company.

They are claiming that management is failing to collect what is due to the local authority from these clients.