‘Jobs Losses Unjust’, -Claims ‘Nikuvist’ Mugabe Who Promised Zanu PF Electorate 2Million Jobs’

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has angrily lashed out at the Supreme Court judgment that has resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs in an already desperate economy.

Despite the veteran leader’s anger, his government has allowed companies controlled by the State such as the GMB, NRZ as well as the Zimpapers media group to dismiss workers using the ruling.

Mugabe’s own industry minister said the dismissals were good for companies.

Still, addressing his Zanu PF party’s National Consultative Assembly Mugabe Saturday, Mugabe said the job dismissals were “unjust”.

“We had people who were employed and they have lost the jobs to join the unemployed,” said the Zanu PF leader.

“We have said that is not fair, it is not just and it is not acceptable. These people are being laid off with nothing just the three salary after working for 20 years.

“These unfortunate workers are now no different from those who did not have jobs yesterday”.

He said his government is working on an amendment of the country’s labour law in a bid to stem the tide.

From private companies to parastatals, Zimbabwe has been bleeding jobs at an alarming rate in the past two weeks in the aftermath of a Supreme Court judgment that gave employers the same rights as workers to give three months’ notice before terminating a contract.

Conservative estimates put the figure of workers who have joined the ranks of the unemployed at around 18,000 and counting.

Mugabe called on employers to fire workers after considering their service to the company.

“Yes the employer has a right to discharge an employee, but on sound consideration. Is he lazy or negating his duties but that cannot be the whole lot of them. It cannot be.

“Have they not contributed to the growth of the company from which they are being discharged, have they not created some wealth?

“They cannot have just suddenly become failures, the whole lot. There should be some moral grounds to discharge workers,” said Mugabe.

Among Mugabe’s lieutenants who have used the judgment to fire workers are Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s supermarket chain laid off almost 100 workers last week.

On the other hand Transport Minister Obert Mpofu has tried to use the ruling in retrospect to fire journalists and support staff from his Zimbabwe Mail newspaper that closed doors in March. source-newzimbabwe

 

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