Vendors Spoil Workers' Day

ZIMBABWE Republic Police officers had a torrid time containing vendors scrambling for free food and T-Shirts at the government's belated May Day celebrations in Harare on Monday. 

Vendors, who had been frog-marched from their work stations to form a May Day procession, turned rowdy at the sight of food and T-Shirts that were being distributed upon entrance into Rufaro Stadium.

A pack of four buns and a sachet of fruit juice was on offer to the vendors and workers upon entry into the stadium.

The Financial Gazette witnessed vendors fighting for food while police tried desperately to control them, and had to use vicious dogs to maintain order.

Vendors Spoil Workers' Day

Some vendors from Mbare could be heard saying all they had come for was the free food and T-shirts, after which they abandoned the commemorations and returned back to their work stations, leaving Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to address a small gathering, not so usual at most ZANU-PF events.

"What is Workers Day? Do we have jobs in Zimbabwe or it's all about vending in Zimbabwe. Hakuna mabasa; aripi mabasa acho mutipewo (there are no jobs, give us the jobs)," one women shouted while she made her way off after grabbing her share of the food.

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a serious economic meltdown that has seen many companies close and throwing thousands out of the formal job market.

Statistics show that Zimbabwe had about three million workers in 1999 when Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change was formed from the workers unions, but now has less than 300 000 people formally employed in the private sector, despite the ZANU-PF government promising over two million jobs in its 2013 election manifesto.

Most workers who lost their jobs have joined the informal sector.

"Why would I be here when I should be managing my business selling my potatoes so that I can have money for my children to survive, schools are opening tomorrow (Wednesday) and we need money for fees and food," another vendor, who only identified herself as mai Mwenga, said.

"I cannot follow these politicians; they have money already and can afford to send their children to fancy schools. Some of us we have to work. Why do they want us to celebrate something that we don't have?"

Drama did not end at the entrance. Inside the stadium when Mnangangwa presented the key-note address, placards with messages showing how people were suffering were on display for him to see.

Most of them demanded an immediate alignment of labour laws, after the Constitutional Court last July made a ruling authorising companies to fire workers on three months' notice without further obligations. Labour unions claim over 30 000 workers were fired using the ruling.

"We demand harmonisation of all labour laws" and "We demand immediate alignment of the Labour Act to the Constitution" were some of the messages on the placards displayed by the Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union.

Mnangagwa is also the Minister of Justice in President Robert Mugabe's government.

Others called for President Mugabe to intervene and end their suffering as workers.

In her address to the workers, Minister of Labour, Public Service and Social Welfare, Prisca Mupfumira, said government would address concerns brought forward by the workers such as establishment of a pension fund, occupational health and safety and housing.

"Government as an employer commits itself to address issues brought to its attention by its valuable workers," she said.

On May 1, hundreds of workers attended a Workers' Day commemoration organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare, an event which had a better turnout compared to the one organised by government.