Back to Index

Workers complain of Zanu PF 'extortion'
Caiphas Chimhete, The Standard (Zimbabwe)
August 13, 2006

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=4512&siteid=1

THE financially troubled Zanu PF party has ordered underpaid Harare City Council workers to contribute at least $200 000 each towards the Heroes and Defence Forces’ commemorations set for this week, The Standard has established.

Workers who spoke to this newspaper said the money was being paid to the council’s departmental heads, who would in turn submit it to Sekesai Makwavarara, the chairperson of the commission running Harare.

"We were told that each employee was required to pay $200 000. However, some are even paying $2 million because of fear while some seek favours," said one worker, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.

This is not the first time that Zanu PF has forced people to contribute towards its private functions or national events.

Teachers, particularly those in rural areas, have on several occasions been extorted of huge sums of money to finance events such as President Robert Mugabe’s birthday and Heroes and Defence Forces’ commemorations.

Harare Municipal Workers’ Union (HMWU) chairman, Cosmas Bungu, was not immediately available for comment.

But council spokesperson, Madenyika Magwenjere, said he was not aware of the contributions. "I have never heard about it. This is my first time and I don’t think it’s happening here," Magwenjere said.

But Combined Harare Residents’ Association (Chra) spokesperson, Precious Shumba, lambasted Zanu PF for forcing poverty-stricken workers to contribute towards the commemorations.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP