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In separate interviews, the workers said they were in a desperate situation.

 

“This is a sad chapter in our life. The company has closed down and we are now jobless. Siphelelwe nje kodwa iNkosi yiyo eyaziyo (we are now destitute and only God knows),” said one of the workers.

The workers said management instructed them to visit the offices yesterday to collect their payslips for their last salary.

“We were told to stop coming to work last Friday and instructed to come today to collect payslips and then come back on Friday this week to get our salaries,” said another worker.

“Management said we will get money for the number of days we worked and leave days accrued. However, they have not been clear on the issue of the package and we do not know whether we will get it.”

The workers also said the company has informed them that it will be selling all the machinery by public auction on  Tuesday in order to raise money for their packages.

They, however, accused management of being unfair, saying they did not have the money to buy the machines and alleged that some senior managers had already allocated themselves the best machines.

“We are told there will be a public auction of the machinery on Tuesday and that each worker will buy one. But we do not have any money. We have also not been told the price, but have learnt that senior managers have already looted the best machinery batshiya imvuthu (and left the old ones),” fumed another worker.

The factory manager, Mr Van Der Beck, declined to be interviewed and referred all questions to head office at Ready Wholesalers.

“Mr Van Der Beck says he cannot talk to you without setting an appointment. He said you can approach Mr Mahachi at our head office along 23rd Avenue,” said his secretary at the reception.

Mr Mahachi was reported to be out of office with his secretary referring the news crew back to Mr Van Der Beck.

“The announcement about this issue was made in August and that’s all. Mr Mahachi is not in and Mr Van Der Beck is better positioned to explain that to you. Give me your number and we will call if it is necessary,” said the secretary who did not identify herself.

Contacted for comment Bulawayo Provincial Governor Cain Mathema said the closure of industries was a result of the biting effects of Western sanctions.

Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) southern regional head Mr Pardon Mangena said it was sad that another company was closing.

“We have received that report and it is a sad story for Bulawayo. It is disturbing and distressing. All this is because of the Government’s failure to administer Dimaf. If this company had received funding it would not have closed down,” said Mr Mangena.

Belmor Manufacturers announced its decision to close shop some months ago citing viability problems. The company management held meetings with workers to discuss their retrenchment packages. The company pledged to pay workers according to the number of years they had served.

The workers were then given some forms, which stated among other things that those who had been with  the company for a period of 10 years and below would be given one-month salary for every year served.

The workers were also given a three- month basic pay as a notice.

The company also discussed the payment of accrued vacation leave balancing and payment of transfer of accumulated pension amounting under relevant pension rules.

The continued closure and relocation of companies from Bulawayo in the  past few years has resulted in loss of about 20 000 jobs and heavily crippled the city’s economy.

The textile sector has been the hardest hit with about 19 companies having closed shop and laid off hundreds of workers.

Players in the industry have cited unfair competition from cheap imports and liquidity challenges as major reasons for the demise of the city’s industry.