Zimpapers Logo

Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
GWANDA Town Council workers yesterday called off their strike after reaching an amicable settlement with management over the payment of their outstanding salaries.
About 90 workers had downed tools on Monday pressing council to pay them their three months outstanding salaries.
In an interview yesterday, Gwanda Mayor Knowledge Ndlovu confirmed that they had reached an agreement with workers.

“Negotiations were rough but I am happy to say that we have reached an amicable agreement. We are expecting the workers to resume operations tomorrow.

“We will try by all means possible to avoid the repeat of what has happened and see that they get their April salaries. We need about $130,000 monthly for the workers excluding the top management,” he said.

When the top management is included, the salary bill balloons to about $186,000 per month.
However, council has been collecting little revenue hence the failure to pay workers’ salaries as most residents fail to honour their debts.

The mayor said some commercial and industrial stands which were allocated years back were yet to be paid for, a challenge that has negatively affected the smooth running of council operations.

Council is expected to revive some of its properties such as the MaNkomo Beerhall so as to help improve revenues collected.
“The strike did not last long but had a negative impact especially on revenue collection and refuse collection. It is now up to all parties to commit themselves to getting back to serious business,” said Ndlovu.

The Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers’ Union (ZUCWU) Gwanda branch chairperson Sipho Ndlovu said they were happy with the agreement made.

“We are happy as the workers and everyone will be at work tomorrow,” he told Chronicle yesterday.
The workers chairperson said council promised to clear this month’s salary by April 30, whereas the payment of outstanding salaries would start in May up to August.

“After two days, we have managed to compromise and come to an agreement. If what was agreed is implemented, we expect that by August we will be getting our salaries the normal way,” he added.

Ndlovu said if council failed to honour the agreement, workers would take legal action against the local authority.