John Manzongo At the workplace
It  seems payment of bonuses remains a thorny issue and will continue to take centre stage every year, at least for the month of December. But the issue is not just bonuses but also decent salaries that can afford a family man or woman to lead a reasonable lifestyle.
I am glad my previous observation about poor remuneration and poor working conditions was also noted by the highest authorities of our country and this has given me strength to point out where I feel as a nation, we are letting each other down.

I have noted how a few people are benefiting from the country’s vast mineral resources such as diamonds, gold and platinum. They are living large while the rest of the country is living in abject poverty.

President Mugabe told delegates to the ZANU-PF 14th Annual People’s Conference in Chinhoyi over the weekend that, “We must pay our people well. We must pay the teachers well, the nurses and doctors well and other workers in these institutions well, those in the social services, social welfare and of course those in civil service must be well paid.

“Minister Chinamasa find money for our workers, we have diamonds, platinum and gold in this country. Where are all these resources going? We say No to salaries which fall below the poverty datum line, we cannot be seen to be slave masters of our own people. They cannot work for nothing, that time is gone. Surely $100, $200, $300 and you expect them to survive? No, that time for slavery is gone.”

Mining company executives are living large, they drive expensive cars and live in plush suburbs where they live the dream lives of many Zimbabweans. If the Government has a majority stake in these mines, how come it is bankrupt when those running these companies have so much at their disposal? The question that quickly comes to mind is how the authorities are letting that happen? The diamonds, gold and platinum are for Zimbabweans but the state coffers are always dry when it comes to paying decent salaries to civil servants.

The majority of civil servants are anxiously waiting for their bonuses which they were promised to receive before year end. Those in the security services got their bonuses last month. Surely these companies benefiting from the country’s natural resources must show their gratitude to the nation by at least donating, not for charity but to uplift the souls of the workers so that they can enjoy the festive season like everyone else. Government workers are still waiting for salary increases that are long overdue.

I observe that they always take pride in social responsibility activities. Let them extend that same generosity to the rest of the country because some of us with meagre salaries view supporting sport as luxury and a misdirected effort.

While it might be difficult to compel the private sector to pay workers living salaries because they are guided by profit or loss, the bottom line is that we need to act with sympathy towards each other.

The most saddening thing is to see company executives splashing money at their churches yet their workers are struggling to make ends meet with some going for days without food and a majority footing to work.

Surely, charity begins at home; I do not think God will answer prayers of selfish people.
Today the Minister of Finance will be presenting the National Budget and the nation, be it private or public sector, will be guided accordingly. The majority of the workforce will be concerned about how much they will take home as tax free bonuses. Their hopes will be uplifted or dampened by today’s budget presentation. One thing that is certain, however, is that Government workers should be getting salaries that commensurate with the poverty datum line as dictated by President Mugabe in Chinhoyi over the weekend.

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