Soldiers block workers demo against Chinese

By Moses Matenga

HARARE- Soldiers guarding the $80-million National Defence College currently under construction near Marlborough in Harare yesterday barred former construction workers from demonstrating against illegal termination of their contracts by their Chinese employer.

More than 30 workers had gathered at the construction site to force management of the Chinese construction company, AFECC, to renew their contracts and pay their wages and benefits for last month. They accused their Chinese employers for terminating their contracts on Tuesday without giving notice.

They used to make us work for long hours and sometimes we would go home around 12 midnight. It was so inhumane and if we complained they would fire those who would have made the complaints, said one of the workers in an interview before they were chased away by armed soldiers.

According to our contracts, we were being paid $1,27 per hour but our pay slips later reflected that at least $100 would have been deducted from what was due to us. They told us they were deducting NSSA and pension contributions, but surprisingly they are telling us we will not get any terminal benefits, said another worker who preferred to remain anonymous.

Strenuous efforts to obtain comment from the Chinese contractors were fruitless yesterday as armed soldiers at the construction site blocked the gate to the offices. They ordered the NewsDay news crew off the vicinity of the construction site before being seen advancing towards the fleeing demonstrators.

Attempts to get comment from the Chinese Embassy also hit a brick wall as officials authorised to comment were either out of the country or out of the office. Last year, businessman Philip Chiyangwa and Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Workers Union chairperson Enjula Mpofu urged workers to defend themselves against abusive Chinese employers. NewsDay