Lovemore Meya Herald Reporter
Chitungwiza municipal workers’ strike intensified yesterday with the management enlisting the services of anti-riot police to quell the situation as rowdy employees blocked residents from paying rates.
The strike has entered its third day with the workers vowing not to disperse until the city fathers pay them outstanding salaries and allowances amounting to $13 million accrued over 13 months.
Reports yesterday were that workers were turning away ratepayers claiming that if they paid their bills the money would be squandered by management.
Chitungwiza Town Clerk Mr George Makunde said he had to call police to restore order.
“As you have noted they are still there (the workers), there was chaos as they turned away ratepayers and we had to call the police,” he said.
Mr Makunde said senior managers sneaked into the office to attend a meeting to map the way forward after the melee.
“These people in here had to be sneaked in using different cars since all their cars were left parked somewhere for fear that they could be damaged,” he said.
Refuse has gone uncollected and sewage gushing out in some areas had not been attended to.
“I want those who went on strike while serving under the essential services to be arrested as what they did was putting the lives of people in danger.
“If the disposal order we applied for to cancel the strike is granted, all those to be found on the wrong side would face disciplinary measures,” said Mr Makunde.
He said the workers’ strike was not of their own accord but had been directed by land barons whose structures were being demolished by the council to take the industrial action.
However, the workers spokesperson Reverend Ephraim Katsina, accused Mr Makunde of lying.
“Makunde is lying that we are being used by land barons to stage the strike. Obviously, it shows that he does not read and understand the Labour Act.
“He should engage the Workers Union and the workers rather than using threats. And as of the ratepayers, no one was turned away but the people themselves alleged that if the workers are on strike, management could steal the money,” he said.
Rev Katsina said they would persist with prayers until the conciliation hearing at the Labour Court.
Police at St Mary’s station declined to comment.
Chitungwiza council went to the High Court last week seeking permission to demolish 8 000 structures in urban and 6 000 in rural Seke areas.