Hwange Power Station strike escalates as MP, unionist clash

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Negotiations between striking workers at the Hwange Power Station expansion project and their Chinese employer ended prematurely on Friday after a top official from the Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Workers’ Union (ZCATWU) walked out.

ZCATWU secretary general Machapuwa Mazarura was said to have objected to the presence of Hwange Central Member of Parliament Daniel Molokele and left in a huff.

The workers went on strike this week demanding that their employer Sino Hydro, which is contracted by the Zimbabwe Power Company to add two units at the country’s largest thermal power station, must pay them in foreign currency.

They are also protesting about alleged abuse by their supervisors, lack of protective clothing, transport allowances and poor diet, among other issues.

Molokele said he had been invited by some of the workers to observe proceedings at Friday’s meeting.

“Mazarura said he can’t chair the meeting whilst the MP is inside,” one of the worker, who was at the meeting told VicFallsLive.

“The MP then told him that he was only there to observe the proceedings as the project is in his constituency and had been invited by the aggrieved workers, but Mazarura insisted that he wouldn’t chair the meeting if the MP was there together with some cameraman who was filming the proceedings.

“So the meeting didn’t resolve anything because of the back and forth.

“Mazarura abandoned the meeting and walked to his car, and he was followed by some Chinese officials and through our committee, we understand that the Chinese told him that they are ready to pay us in United States, but they only wanted us to organise ourselves.”

In a leaked audio, Mazarura and Molokele can be heard exchanging harsh words.

“I told you that I am not leaving, do whatever you want,” Molokele was heard shouting.”

Mazarura shot back: “So if you are not leaving we will leave it you,”

Molokele responded: “I am within the law and I sit as the MP.

“Go and check the constitution and my role as the MP and if you haven’t read it, I can open it for you right now.

“You are a sell out, you want to negotiate with them in private.”

The workers said during the meeting, which started around 9 AM outside the company’s premises before moving to the main offices, there was no hint Sino was prepared to pay employees in foreign currency.

“The lowest grade (4) workers are paid $20 000 while those in the upper grade (1) gets paid between $20 000 to $35 000,” another source revealed.

“No one here gets more than that except those in the top management.

‘ That’s why we are trying to negotiate. We are frustrated by the way our supervisors are treating us and we are also given poorly cooked meals.

“Those that work from their homes are not being given meals here yet the work is straining us.”

Both Molokele and Mazarura could not be reached for comment.

The expansion project, which will add 600 megawatts into the national grid is expected to be completed by the end of the year.