CSC workers on Tuesday downed their tools over unpaid wages at the plant in Belmont, Bulawayo

Molline Gagare Business Reporter
COLD Storage Company (CSC) workers on Tuesday stormed management offices at the Bulawayo main plant demanding audience with the company’s chief executive officer, Ngoni Chinogaramombe over poor conditions of service.The workers are demanding outstanding salaries dating back to 2009.

They also accused top management of “abusing company resources and squandering funds”.

When a Chronicle news crew arrived at the plant late Tuesday afternoon, angry workers were gathered in front of the administration block demanding their salaries.

Some were shouting on top of their voices demanding immediate solution to their woes.

Others vowed to spend the night in the corridors of the firm until their grievances were addressed.

The workers alleged Chinogaramombe was paying himself and other managers hefty salaries, buying brand new cars and awarding themselves weekly allowances when the company was on its knees.

“They’re living large. We’ve not had a full salary as from 2009. These managers get a weekly allowance of airtime, every month they get a full salary and they can even afford to buy brand new vehicles,” said Davies Nkala, the chairperson of the workers’ committee.

“Where’s that money coming from when they’re telling the world that production is low? We’re suffering at their expense. This rot must be exposed.”

Chinogaramombe, however, denied the allegations telling Business Chronicle that the company was facing numerous challenges.

He said since the export quota to the European Union was discontinued due to the illegal sanctions, it had been difficult to operate on a profitable basis.

“We do appreciate the disgruntlement from the workers. At the moment CSC is operating at very low capacity. The plant was designed to slaughter 800 cattle a day. I can tell you that in the month of May, a total of 1,500 cattle were slaughtered. That is supposed to be a two-day slaughter,” he said.

“The workers should appreciate that they’re paid according to what has been produced.”

Chinogaramombe said it was not true that he gets a hefty salary or that he has a brand new car.

He also denied reports that other managers were getting airtime allowances every week.

“CSC does not have a landline. All the managers use cellphones on a daily basis. What the workers claim are allowances are instead operational costs. The airtime needs to be bought for communication purposes. The managers were given second-hand cars in 2011 that had already been used for five years for transport. Everyone is paid half salaries. No manager is exempted,” said Chinogaramombe.

He said so far the workers had been paid a total of $15,000 in salaries from May.

“As from May, $15,000 has gone towards salaries for the workers. We’re expecting more funds next week that will go towards salaries. The monthly net bill is $49,000. On average, we’ve been paying about $30,000 in salaries from 2014. How does anyone expect CSC to have cash when the whole economy is struggling,” said Chinogaramombe.

The troubled company has reported an average loss of $6 million per year for the past decade.