Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has said that it is preparing for stay-away over the economic crisis.
ZCTU President, Peter Mutasa, told News Day that preparations were already underway. He said:
We have a general council resolution to call for a stay-away. However, the dates will be announced as soon as our organising teams have completed the mobilisation.
Mutasa added that the protests against the government which runs the state of affairs were motivated by the deteriorating living standards in the country. He said:
The majority of Zimbabweans are suffering and wallowing in poverty. Workers and their families are starving. They are failing to pay rent, school fees and for other basic necessities.
Workers and their families are dying in homes because many cannot access medical care or buy prescribed drugs. Transport to and from work is a nightmare, and we face huge energy costs as a result of load shedding as we have to use more expensive alternatives.
Mutasa also said that the soaring inflation had eroded the salaries of workers, making it unsustainable to perform their contractual duties and responsibilities.
ZCTU and the MDC have been planning demonstrations over the state of affairs. The MDC, however, has said that the time is not yet right for that since the party is preoccupied with internal affairs.
In January this year, ZCTU initiated a stay-away which did not end well as it became violent. Some protestors looted and vandalised shops. In response, security personnel fired live ammunition at protestors, killing many.
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