FRIDAY, 8.00AM
A SECURITY company manager in Harare opened fire on 200 employees on Thursday who were stoning the company’s offices, demanding 50% pay rises. He injured 18 workers. The workers burnt a dozen company motorbikes before police arrived to quell the riot and arrest the manager.
THURSDAY, 4.00PM
MORE than 11 000 Zimbabwean railway workers from three unions went on strike on Wednesday morning, demanding salary increases of close to 50%. They are also demanding that the government-owned railways pay out increases of 9,25% recommendend by independent arbitrators a year ago, but never paid.
“We are primarily striking for money, but we also want the management to learn to accept the rule of law and respect signed agreements,” Zvavamwe Shambare, Railway Artisans’ Union (RAU) secretary-general, said.
The railways management has announced that all passenger services have been cancelled, and it is expected that goods trains will follow. Trains are among the most popular modes of transport in Zimbabwe, because they are cheap and accessible to people in low income groups.
Construction workers in Harare remained on strike for the fourth day, with most building sites in the city deserted.