Security guards demand USD
Providence Moyo
Security guards in Bulawayo demonstrated against poor remuneration over the weekend, joining a growing list of workers in the private and public sectors demanding United States dollar salaries as the local currency continues on free fall.
The security guards held a peaceful demonstration across as they moved around trying to persuade others who had reported for duty at different work stations. Some of the demonstrating guards were arrested during the march on Saturday.
A member of Black Shark Security Services (name withheld) who was part of the peaceful protest said the meagre salaries have become meaningless and are gobbled up by transport costs alone. He revealed that the last payment he received was $126 000ZWL and $50 USD that were paid electronically.
“Last month we received our salaries in batches. In the first week we recieved 86 thousand then the following week ZWL $40 thousand plus 50 USD which was paid through Innbucks. We need a living wage because we go to work five days in a week and we are sometimes forced to do extra shifts and over time but all that goes uncompensated.
A Fawcett employee said the salaries are not worth the danger security guards put themselves through.
“This is slavery. We dice with death for nothing as some of us do night shifts which are risky. We put ourselves in harm’s way as dangerous criminals are always on the prowl and some of us end up either harmed or murdered but the salaries are depressing,” he said.
A Umjayeli Security services employee who also spoke on condition of anonymity said inconsistent pay dates inconvenience workers and makes planning and budgeting difficult.
They believe security forces have been dispatched to sabotage the demonstrations by intimidating the participants.
Private Security Union of Zimbabwe General Secretary John Manyuchi said most members are getting salaries at the interbank rate and they have to buy foreign currency from forex dealers which further reduces their salaries.
“We are facing exploitation and it is painful that our employers on their are ganging up against us. They are sabotaging our protests and are determined to use the police to arrest some of our leading protesters. Some of our members who were arrested on Friday were released on bail yesterday but we are determined to fight on. I have recieved a report from one of the employers threatening to continue with the use of police officers but that will not hinder our members from asking for a living wage.
We cannot afford to take our children to school. We need justice on salaries and they should be in USD,” he said.
This publication has it on good authority that Real Star security guards earn 300 000 which is approximately $75 USD.
Real Star boss for the Bulawayo branch, Tawanda Gurajena did not reply to messages left for him after having promised to respond. UMjayeli and Fawcett Security officials did not respond.
This demonstration has added to a growing list of industrial action and demands for payment in USD. Zimpapers employees in Bulawayo and Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) employees are some of the workers that have downed tools in recent weeks. Nurses have also put government on notice over poor salaries.
