TAZARA WORKERS DOWN TOOLS

Workers at the beleaguered Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) in Kapiri Mposhi have downed tools to protest over delayed payment of salaries.

Workers’ Union of TAZARA General Secretary Africa Mkandawire confirmed this in an interview yesterday. He said the workers felt the tripartite meeting held with management, the union and government officials in Mpika on Monday did not give a specific day of which they would receive their salaries.

Mr. Mkandawire said the other stations would join their colleagues at Kapiri Mposhi after meeting with the union representatives. The workers on the Zambian side on Monday downed tools and besieged the regional office in Mpika demanding to be addressed by Muchinga Province Minister Malonzo Sichome.

At highly charged meeting, the workers demanded to be paid their March and April salaries before they could resume work. The situation was only brought under control after Mr. Sichone addressed the workers around 13.00 hours and assured them that they would receive their March salaries by Friday this week while the April salaries would be paid next week.

The Minister contacted TAZARA Managing Director Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, who is based in Dar es Salaam, on a conference call. The Managing Director expressed confidence that the salaries would be paid on Friday and that April payments would be paid next week.

The slogan-chanting workers only went back to work after Mr. Sichone pleaded with them to give management until next week to resolve the issue.

Mr. Mkandawire said the workers were not happy with the development although they agreed to go back to work because they were earlier assured that they would get their salaries on Monday this week.