The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
CLOSE to a 100 contract workers at Pungwe Breweries downed their tools this morning, protesting over non-payment of salaries for eight months.
The disgruntled employees locked everyone, including the management, inside the brewery’s premises in the Nyakamete Industrial Area, while also blocking delivery vehicles from leaving the premises.
Ms Rose Makombe, a cashier with the company, said they will unlock the gates after their demands were met.
“I work as a cashier for one of their bars and I cash in at least $100 000 daily, yet as a worker, I am languishing in poverty. This is not fair. They claim that I receive a salary of $22 000 a month, yet I have not been paid anything since August 2021. We are not allowed to ask for our money. They try by all means to intimidate us whenever we ask for our money,” said Ms Makombe.
A driver, Mr Simbarashe Marange, said the industrial action was the last resort after their general manager, Mr Erick Dzinza refused to entertain them.
“We are not allowed to have a workers’ committee. We are not allowed to ask for our money. Once people ask management about their money, they are send on forced leave. We have locked everyone inside so that the responsible authority, which is Mutare City Council, hears our plight and rectify this,” he said.
The angry group refused to entertain Acting Mutare Mayor, Councillor Farai Bhiza, when he came with a delegation to address them, demanding audience with Mutare Mayor, Cllr Simon Chabuka and Acting Town Clerk, Mr Blessing Chafesuka.
Mr Dzinza refused to comment citing jurisdiction.
Mr Ushe Ushe of the Zimbabwe Food, Beverage and Allied Workers Union, who was also present, but locked outside the gates, confirmed that the workers have not been receiving their dues for eight months.
He, too, was denied entrance into the premises and had to endure insults from the angry workers who accused him of siding with the management.
“It is true that workers here would be fired when they join workers’ unions of their choice, but that was addressed by the company’s board of directors led by Cllr Bhiza. We are here to assist them in finding an amicable solution to their grievances,” he said.
The workers are supposed to get $20 000 as salary, according to their contracts.
