TAZARA PASSENGERS STUCK

Passengers in all Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) stations are stranded as the strike by more than 1,200 unionised workers entered the third day yesterday. 

The irate employees blocked the entrance to regional head office and main locomotive workshops in Mpika. Hundreds of passengers were stranded on the stretch between Kapiri-Mposhi and Nakonde on the Zambian side.

Workers’ Union of TAZARA (WUTAZ) General Secretary Africa Mkandawire demanded that the Managing Director Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika and his deputy Damas Ndumbaro should immediately address the problems beleaguered firm was facing.

The workers at the railway company have not been paid their March and April salaries while fuel for operations has run out.

Mr. Mkandawire charged that the two top officials had failed to run the company which had been beset with problems for some time now. He said workers were demanding the removal of some top management officials and the cancellation of contracts given to employees who were above 55 years. 

Mr. Mkandawire said 110 who had retired had been brought back on contract and were gobbling about Kwacha 400 million per month in salaries and other emoluments when the company was limping financially.

“The workers are demanding that they be paid salaries for two months that is, March and April and that May salaries be paid by 25th”, said Mr. Mkandawire.

Meanwhile, police on Tuesday fired tear gas canisters to disperse TAZARA workers in Kapiri-Mposhi who had staged a protest. When the workers dispersed, the police followed them to their homes where they fired more tear gas which affected family members.

Minister Mkandawire said the workers were scheduled to meet Transport, Communication, Works and Supply Minister Mr. Yamfwa Mukanga yesterday.