Maravi

Zesco casual workers protest

Zesco casual workers protest
By Gift Chanda
Wed 05 Oct. 2011, 09:20 CAT

CASUAL workers at Zesco Limited yesterday went on strike demanding improved working conditions and permanent employment. The workers who demanded a pay rise from as low as K200,000 per month, blocked both entrances into Zesco headquarters in Lusaka and chanted political slogans.

Most of the offices at the premises, including the pre-paid electricity sales office section, were desserted and customers were being turned away. The workers who have not been paid their September salaries, accused former managing director Ernest Mupwaya's management of being incompetent and corrupt.

They claimed that their salaries were delayed because the company used money to finance the MMD campaigns.

"This company makes a lot of money, look at what they are spending on solar geysers. It is a lot and yet they are failing to pay us.

There is too much corruption in this company. People were pocketing the money and much of it went to finance campaigns," one worker who declined to named said in an interview.

A meeting was later convened by management and selected workers where it was resolved that the workers would be paid by 14:00 today, During the meeting, the workers complained over nepotism in the employment structures at the power utility company.

They said some of the workers had been shortlisted for permanent employment since 1999.

They also campaigned about low wages compared to work output. Newly appointed managing director Cyprian Chitundu who rushed to the premises shortly after being appointed promised to quickly address the issues the workers raised.

"I was asked to come and I had a meeting with the former board chairman an hour ago…my plea to you is that give me time. I will be meeting with the minister this afternoon so that we can table the issues and one of the issues we are going to discuss is this very same one and then provide feedback. By tomorrow today we should be able to get back to you with definite answers," said Chitundu.

Labels: CYPRIAN CHITUNDU, ZESCO

posted by MrK @ 1:52 PM