You can’t develop Zimbabwe on the back of slave labour, Mr. President!
BY Tendai Ruben Mbofana
So President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa actually believes workers are the cornerstone to Zimbabwe’s aspirations towards attaining its developmental goals?
That is very shocking to hear!
He made these incredible remarks to commemorate this year’s Workers Day.
The head of state proceeded to ‘applaud the vital role that labour plays in the realization of our national development goals.’
Wow, Mr. President, that is so hard to fathom, taking into consideration the unbelievable poverty and suffering workers in Zimbabwe face each and every day.
How is their dedication and resilience ‘applauded and commended’ when they are treated as slaves in their own country?
Surely, is throwing over two-thirds of the workforce into unimaginable poverty – as they earn below the poverty datum line – a way of showing appreciation for these hardworking men and women?
This is also a country where an estimated 49 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty – earning, according to the 2023 UN classification, less than US$2.57 a day (the international poverty line).
In other words, anyone taking home less than US$77 a month should consider themselves extremely poor.
I actually believe that those falling in this category in Zimbabwe are far more than the 49 percent official figure, since this was for 2020 (when economic factors such as inflation were at lower levels than today).
Right now, the government’s own employees (civil servants) are some of the lowest paid workers not only in the country but also in comparison to their counterparts in the southern African region.
In spite of endless promises of improved remuneration, as well as other so-called ‘non-monetary benefits’ (such as solar systems, 50,000 housing units, and others), virtually nothing has been fulfilled.
After deductions, the majority of civil servants in Zimbabwe do not take home more than US$200 per month.
According to the latest figures by ZimStats (Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency), an average Zimbabwean required over ZWL$700 000 (which is around US$50) in the month of March 2024 for food alone.
This means that, just to purchase food, a family of six needed at least US$300.
How many workers in Zimbabwe, whether in the public or private sector, are earning anywhere near this amount?
Yet, this only covers basic food!
As we all know, ‘man can not live on bread alone’!
One needs to pay for accommodation, utilities, school fees for children (and other education-related costs), transport, and clothing, amongst many other expenses.
How are the vast majority of Zimbabwean workers expected to survive?
Based on several reports I have received, the situation is even worse for those employed by Chinese companies operating in Zimbabwe.
These employees are some of the most abused and exploited in the country.
Not only are they compelled to work under the most hazardous conditions (without sufficient protective equipment), but also poorly paid and, in most cases, not even given their salaries for months.
In actual fact, reports are awash of these workers being physically assaulted by their Chinese bosses.
The most harrowing message I received was from an employee who alleged that a woman at a lithium mine in Bikita died after the company refused to provide her transport when she had been referred to Harare for critical medical attention.
This resulted in flash protests in the workers’ compound against the mining company, which were ruthlessly crushed allegedly with the aid of local law enforcement agents.
All this is taking place while these Chinese mining companies are unapologetically pillaging our mineral resources worth billions of dollars with scant regard for human rights and environmental considerations.
The fact that these employers are permitted or even protected by the government of Zimbabwe paints a disturbing picture of the general plight of workers all across the country.
We are viewed as nothing more than slave labour.
Both the government and the private sector have adopted an ‘if you don’t like it, the door is open’ attitude.
So, when Mnangagwa talks about valuing workers as the ‘cornerstone to Zimbabwe’s aspirations towards attaining its developmental goals’, what exactly does he mean?
Is he talking in terms of developing the country on the same lines as the transatlantic slave trade – where counties like the USA witnessed phenomenal economic growth on the back of slave labour?
Are those Mnangagwa’s aspirations?
Is this how Zimbabwe is expected to achieve Mnangagwa’s envisioned ‘Vision 2030’?
All I can say to that is, “Shame on you!”
● Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate and writer. Please feel free to WhatsApp or Call: +263715667700 | +263782283975, or email: mbofana.tendairuben73@gmail.com. For his biography visit Wikipedia page: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tendai_Ruben_Mbofana
