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Gweru Council workers stage a demonstration in this file photo (top) and the Workers Committee spokesperson, Cornelia Selipiwe

Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief—
DEMONSTRATING Gweru City Council workers on Friday impounded a council minibus before they went to Fairmile Motel, government schools and the government complex where they disconnected water supplies without management approval. The mayor, Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi, described the workers’ action as “uncalled for” as it came at a time when council had paid the workers their December 2014 salary, back pay, bonus and also provided them with protective clothing.

Workers took the impounded vehicle, a Toyota Quantum minibus used by councillors for tours, to Gweru Central Police Station.

The employees said the seizure of the Toyota Quantum was aimed at blocking councillors and management from attending the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair which opens in Bulawayo tomorrow.

They then proceeded to disconnect water at Cecil John Rhodes Primary School, Chaplin High School, Fairmile Motel and the Government Complex which houses the offices of Minister for Provincial Affairs, Cde Jason Machaya and other senior civil servants in the province. The workers argued that council was failing to collect revenue from these institutions.

Workers Committee spokesperson, Cornelia Selipiwe, said the pool vehicle was impounded to force management to urgently address their grievances.

He accused management and councillors of behaving like tourists who were always on the road wasting ratepayers’ money.

Selipiwe said the councillors had gobbled more than $200,000 in travel allowances between September last year and February this year.

“Management and councillors are taking us for granted. They want to go to ZITF when they still owe us. We impounded the vehicle so that they’ve no vehicle to use,” he said.

Clr Kombayi said what the demonstrating employees were doing was wrong considering that collective bargaining was underway. He said the council recently bought protective clothing for the employees and paid their December salaries and bonuses.

Clr Kombayi said workers had no right to disconnect water supplies because management and many water consumers had agreed on payment plans.

“They can’t go and disconnect water without management’s approval. They also can’t impound council vehicles. What they’re doing is uncalled for since we’re trying our level best to meet their demands,” he said.

Clr Kombayi said they were going to let the law take its course in addressing the latest development.

He said what was happening was no longer about salaries but activism aimed at forcing the councillors out of office.

“There is a hidden agenda behind these actions and we want to apologise to our clients whose businesses were interrupted when water was disconnected at their premises,” he said.

Clr Kombayi defended council trips saying they were important business trips