Two council employees died last week after being choked by
gases in a manhole they were working under.
Richard Longwe and Mary Svinurai, were buried in Gweru at
the weekend where other council workers allegedly booed council management and
remonstrated with them.
They were accusing management of negligence and failure to
provide enough protective wear that could have saved the two.
Sources said the funeral wake of the two workers was marred
by protests and booing of council management during speeches.
In a letter dated Wednesday, the council suspended the four
workers without pay.
A copy of the suspension letter served on one of the
employees, seen by The Herald, reads: “This letter serves to inform you that
you are hereby suspended from all your duties as . . . with effect from 13
November 2024 without pay and benefits.”
It adds that the suspension was in terms of Statutory
Instrument 15 of 2006 section 4 (a) as read together with other applicable
disciplinary legislation.
The grounds and reasons for the suspension include that the
employee “made several utterances on a WhatsApp group, which referred to or
were directed to your superiors, that is the management of City of Gweru, which
were malicious, insulted their person and character with the aim of inciting
violence, ridicule or causing despondency amongst council employees”.
The letter adds that on November 10, at the funeral of the
late Richard Longwe and Mary Svinurai, the employee “continued to utter
insulting words towards the City of Gweru and its management, in front of the
residents and other stakeholders.
“You continually communicated false information about
council and its management, with the aim of inciting violence, ridicule or
causing despondency amongst council employees,” reads the letter.
The suspension is without pay and benefits and the affected
employees were barred from reporting for duty, entering any council premises
and acting or purporting to act on behalf of council during the period of
suspension.
In addition, they are required to surrender any council
documents or assets they hold to their supervisor.
One of the suspended employees, who requested anonymity,
said the suspension was unfair, adding that the council was not justified in
taking the action without thorough investigations.
“What I can tell you is that many Gweru City Council
employees have been suspended in the last few years. As a result. The council
is losing a lot of money paying people that are not doing any work because they
are on suspension. I think whoever advises them to suspend workers will-nilly
is wrong because in the end, we will win against these trumped up charges,”
said the worker.
Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers
Development Association Trust executive director Mr David Chikore condemned the
suspension of the four employees.
“Workers should be allowed to express their feelings;
remember this was a shocking and painful incident, especially those that
watched the two workers (Longwe and Svinurai) die.
“I feel that while the council felt that the workers’
comments were insulting. They should not have been quick to effect
suspensions,” said Mr Chikore.
He called on the council not to victimise workers who have
genuine grievances. Herald
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