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Midlands Bureau
Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers Union (ZUCWU) Gweru branch chairperson Mr Kudakwashe Munengiwa has accused Gweru Mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe of double standards after he allegedly turned down a notice by workers to demonstrate for salary increments.

Clr Makombe is MDC-Alliance’s Midlands provincial chairperson and recently sought to have police clearance for his party to stage anti-Government protests in Gweru.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Munengiwa, who is also the secretary-general for Gweru city workers committee, said it was hypocritical for Clr Makombe to cry foul over the decision to turn down their intentions to stage protests when he was doing the same thing in council.

“It’s pure hypocrisy, Mayor Makombe is a whole chairperson of the MDC party in the province and they have been crying foul over police’s decision to ban their demonstrations in Gweru, yet at the same time he is presiding over a council administration which is banning protests by its employees,” he said.

“It shows double standards on the part of the mayor.”

Mr Munengiwa said workers who sought to protest against salary cuts filed a protest notice with Gweru City council last week.

He said the council employees won a case in the High Court some time in 2016 after they challenged a council decision to cut their salaries, but until now their salaries have not been reviewed.

Contacted for a comment, Clr Makombe said employees’ salaries and other technical decisions were done by the council administration.

He said workers salaries were factored into the supplementary budget.