Workers lament dying economy

MASVINGO – Workers Day celebrations held at Mucheke Stadium on Monday were dominated by loud calls for workers to fight for their rights in a desolate economy where the average employee can no longer afford the basics of life.
Kamurai Moyo, a National Executive member of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) who was representing the national president Peter Mutasa, expressed concern over the rate of unemployment which he said was signified by a demoralised working class.
“We used to fill these places when we do these celebrations but now look, there are few people here, and what does this signify; there are no workers,” said Moyo.
Moyo said the union could not desist from politics while workers were starving as the welfare of workers depended on good political leadership.
 “When people see us, they say ZCTU is now doing politics. We say yes, there is no way we can desist from politics while we are starving,” said Moyo.
In his speech, Moyo said a survey by ZCTU showed that a large number of the people are working suffer wage theft, a situation whereby workers fail to get their dues while their employers enjoy obscene luxury.
“At least 120 000 workers across the country worked without pay between 2015 and 2016 and about 350 000 of the formally employed workers live in poverty.
“We do not want to be misquoted here, the workers are not fighting a single person as some people would want to say, the workers are fighting for their rights,” he said.
The celebrations ran under the national theme: Fighting Unemployment, Poverty and Inequalities.local