Workers’ living standards continue to deteriorate as the economy continues on a freefall mode, the Standard reports. A survey by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) divulged that an estimated 13 000 people in the western region (Bulawayo, Matabeleland South, and North) lost their jobs in the past 12 months.
According to a teacher based in Gwanda, Urgent Moyo the situation in Zimbabwe is dire due to the soaring inflation. Moyo said:
All workers have tested positive to poverty, including me. We have been reduced to slaves merely working for food, which is not enough and poorly, for that matter.
It has become very difficult for me as a worker to make ends meet because the RTGS$ is losing value against real money like US dollar, rand or pula.
As for the prospects of industry and other sectors of the economy, I foresee further degeneration unless something is done to change the current trajectory that the economy has taken.
The teacher observed that Zimbabwe had enough resources required to transform the lives of all citizens. Moyo said that lack of management and political will were the major issues derailing progress.
The Standard also spoke to some workers at Progress Mine in Filabusi who revealed that the state of affairs is killing the workers’ morale. They indicated that they are failing to fend for their families since their salaries have been eroded by inflation.
The mine is no longer promptly paying their salaries thereby creating other issues associated with the payment of bills and rentals.