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21 August, 2001The tragic shootings at Zisco Steel occurred during a sit-in at the state majority-owned company.
ZIMBABWE: The IMF was shocked to learn via its affiliate, the Zimbabwe Metalworkers' Union (ZIMU), that during a sit-in at Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Zisco Steel) when riot police chased thousands of striking workers from the premises with tear gas, the army began shooting at them. Two of the workers, Samuel Masivatsa and Never Daniels, were shot dead on the spot, and a third, J. Zimba, died later. At least six were injured by live ammunition.
The dispute began in July when collective bargaining negotiations between management and the Iron and Steel Workers' Union, a ZIMU affiliate, concerning wages and benefits for the year 2001-2002, ended in deadlock. Thereupon the union filed a 14-day notice, as required by the Labour Relations Act, to take industrial action. After this two-week waiting period, a sit-in began on August 7 and the tragic shootings took place on August 8, the second day of the sit-in. It is said that the heavy-handedness of the government is due to the fact that it has an 89 per cent share in this mismanaged, loss-making company, where corruption is widespread and the general manager is a political appointee.
The Ministry of Labour finally resolved that Zisco workers should be awarded a 15 per cent cost-of-living adjustment backdated from January 2001, and workers returned to work on August 10.
The minimum monthly earnings to stay above the poverty line in Zimbabwe is Z$16,000 (US$289), however Zisco workers have been earning as little as Z$2,000 (US$36).
The dispute began in July when collective bargaining negotiations between management and the Iron and Steel Workers' Union, a ZIMU affiliate, concerning wages and benefits for the year 2001-2002, ended in deadlock. Thereupon the union filed a 14-day notice, as required by the Labour Relations Act, to take industrial action. After this two-week waiting period, a sit-in began on August 7 and the tragic shootings took place on August 8, the second day of the sit-in. It is said that the heavy-handedness of the government is due to the fact that it has an 89 per cent share in this mismanaged, loss-making company, where corruption is widespread and the general manager is a political appointee.
The Ministry of Labour finally resolved that Zisco workers should be awarded a 15 per cent cost-of-living adjustment backdated from January 2001, and workers returned to work on August 10.
The minimum monthly earnings to stay above the poverty line in Zimbabwe is Z$16,000 (US$289), however Zisco workers have been earning as little as Z$2,000 (US$36).