Council Workers Go Two Months Without Pay, Union Appeals to Government for Urgent Intervention

The Zimbabwe Municipalities Nurses and Allied Workers Union (ZIMNAWU) has appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to urgently intervene in a worsening salary crisis affecting council workers across the country, some of whom have gone for two consecutive months without pay.

In a formal letter addressed to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works at Makombe Building in Harare, the union said the prolonged non-payment of salaries by various local authorities has plunged workers into severe financial and social distress.

ZIMNAWU president Simbarashe James Tafirenyika said, despite repeated engagements and formal reports to the affected councils, no meaningful action has been taken to resolve the situation.

“The continued inaction has left our members exposed to severe financial distress, psychological strain, and social hardship,” Tafirenyika said.

“Council workers are struggling to meet necessities such as food, rent, transport, school fees and medical care.”

The union described the situation as inhumane and inconsistent with fair labour practices, warning that the crisis is beginning to undermine service delivery within municipalities.

Nurses and allied workers employed by local authorities play a critical role in safeguarding public health, particularly at the community level.

According to the union, the failure to pay salaries has resulted in declining morale, increased absenteeism and reduced productivity, with potential consequences for essential public services nationwide.

ZIMNAWU also raised concerns over low remuneration levels, noting that even when salaries are paid, they remain well below the Poverty Datum Line, currently estimated at about US$1,260.

“This reality underscores the urgent need for Government-led intervention to facilitate genuine, meaningful and sustainable collective bargaining within local authorities,” the union said, adding that workers cannot be expected to perform effectively when their wages do not meet basic survival needs.

The union argued that the failure to pay workers on time constitutes a violation of labour rights and undermines public confidence in government institutions.

It called on the Minister to intervene decisively to ensure the immediate payment of outstanding salary arrears, engage local authorities and relevant stakeholders to address recurring salary delays, and champion a comprehensive review of council workers’ salaries to align them with the cost of living.

ZIMNAWU said its members could no longer endure prolonged uncertainty and deprivation and urged the ministry to treat the matter with urgency to restore workers’ dignity and stabilise service delivery in municipalities.

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