Suspended ZESA employees reinstated

By Tichaona Sibanda
18 January 2007

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority has reinstated the majority of workers who were suspended from duty last week for allegedly walking out on strike, demanding higher pay and better working conditions.

About 135 workers were suspended following the industrial action. The general-secretary of the ZESA technical employees association Thomas Masvingwe told Newsreel from Harare on Thursday that almost all have been reinstated except 10 whom the management blame for leading the strike.

Masvingwe said the charges against their members were baseless, unfounded and malicious and vehemently denies accusations that the workers deliberately sabotaged the supply of power in the capital. Most of those suspended were being accused of allegedly switching off electricity in parts of Harare’s central business district during last week’s standoff. But Masvingwe blames the utility’s antiquated equipment for the loss of power in the capital last week.

‘What the ZESA management board has done is to reinstate the employees but with conditions attached. We have asked our members to bring the letters so that we could study them and see if they are in line with the law. If not we will take up the issue with management,’ Masvingwe said.

The disgruntled ZESA workers have been demanding a 1500 percent salary increase and a minimum basic salary of over Z$80 000 for the least paid employees. These employees on A1 salary grade are currently earning Z$23 000 per month. A source told us most employees on the A1 to D2 salary grades were barely getting enough to cover living costs due to the country’s huge level of inflation.

A standoff between management and employees during salary negotiations ended in acrimony when ZESA inflamed the situation by accusing some of its employees of disconnecting power supplies to some consumers in the city centre, bringing business to a halt.

Masvingwe reiterated that cascading power outages in Harare and the rest of the country underscore what energy experts have been warning about for years, that the system will eventually go at any time. He said years of neglected investment in the vast and antiquated network that moves electricity around the country, combined with steadily growing power needs, have left the nation’s electricity grid vulnerable to disruptions.

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ZESN supports elections in 2008
By Violet Gonda
18 January 2007

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network has added its voice to the controversial debate on the harmonisation of elections in Zimbabwe. The electoral body said the constitutional mandate should be respected and presidential elections should be held next year as scheduled. Last month the ruling ZANU PF party announced plans to move presidential elections from 2008 to 2010, so they can be held simultaneously with parliamentary elections. There was an outcry from opposition and civic groups who see this as a ploy to extend Robert Mugabe’s term in office.

ZESN chairperson Dr Reginald Matchaba Hove told SW Radio Africa that in principle there is nothing wrong with harmonisation, but his organisation is opposed to any ‘harmonisation’ that would see the delaying of presidential elections. He said: “Our view was that there should be harmonisation that should be done in 2008. Extending the presidential term without going through an electoral process, deprives the people of Zimbabwe from giving their leaders a fresh mandate.”

It appears there is general consensus that elections should be held at the same time but there are major differences on when they should be held. Some analysts agree that the polls should be combined but say they should be extended from 2008 to 2010, not only to give people time to prepare but that the harmonisation process needs to be accompanied by serious reforms.

The flawed electoral process has been a major complaint for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, since the parliamentary election in 2000 and subsequent elections thereafter. Experts have in the past called for fundamental changes to the electoral system to bring about a more equitable and level playing field. But they say this is being hampered by a clear lack of political will from the Mugabe regime.

When asked if there is enough time to hold the elections next year Dr Matchaba Hobe responded by saying this is something that all stakeholders should be agitating for. He said: “It is important that pressure be brought to bear on all forces, that the people of Zimbabwe would want to see a new constitution and a level playing field that would allow for competition that is free and fair in 2008.”

ZESN says it will be holding a series of public awareness meetings so that people are aware of what is at stake.