(Last Updated on September 29, 2021 by zimdaily)
Harare – Workers at the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) have appealed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to strengthen the line ministry, management and boards for them to have the capacity to review salaries upwards.
The appeal for review of salaries comes at a time when ZESA is under-fire over allegations that it allowed its executive chair, Sydney Gata to appoint nephews and cronies to top executive posts, awarding them more than US$16 000 a month and top of the range cars.
A joint letter directed to Mnangagwa’s office, dated 23rd of September 2021 by Energy Sector Workers Union of Zimbabwe (ESWUZ) and Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union (ZEWU) said management representatives claimed that they do not have any mandate to award salary increases from their boards and the minister Soda Zhemu.
The workers implored Mnangagwa to strengthen the management so that they get the capacity to review their salaries.
“The failure to urgently resolve and put to finality 2021 Bargaining Negotiations (CBN) issues issues as has been achieved by government and other parastatals has the force and effect of causing service disruptions which is not in the best interest of workers and the nation at large.
“Management representatives have been claiming since January 2021 that they do not have any mandate to award increases from their boards and the minister.
“We are aware, Your Excellency, that you declared ZESA Workers a National Asset when you officially unveiled new operational Trucks as ZESA Enterprises much as you paid homage to the same workers for holding fort and providing labour without measure during the entire Covid-19 lockdown. Management, Boards and the Minister do not seem to share your visions,” read the letter.
Nehanda Radio has published allegations involving Gata’s relatives and cronies who included Fortune Sambo, Macrone Utah, Engineer Nyachowe, Emmanuel Midzi, George Manyaya and Egen Choga who are currently earning hefty salaries of more than US$16 000/month and huge benefits necessitated by the recent retrenchment of employees that did not enjoy the luxury of these benefits.
[Nehanda Radio]