Zimbabwe Workers Walking to Work as Economy Tanks
Most workers, who spoke to Studio 7, said the financial situation is very difficult that boarding an omnibus to work has become a luxury.
CHINHOYI — Most workers are now walking to work due to shrinking disaposable income owing mostly to companies’ failure to pay them monthly salaries due to the depressed economy. Some have not been paid for several months and cannot afford to pay transport fares. Workers, who spoke to Studio 7 in Chinhoyi, said the financial situation is very difficult that boarding an omnibus to work has become a luxury. Gift Muchemeyi, an officer with National Social Security Authority, said he prefers to walk about 10 kilometers to and from work in order to save 50 cents to buy lunch. Omnibuses charge 25c for a single trip from most suburbs to Chinhoyi central business district. Another worker, who wanted to be identified only as Shinga Mushandi, said he is walking to work everyday as his $280 monthly salary is not enough to cover most basic necessities. Mushandi said it is better for him to walk to work and then use the saved money for buying bread or relish. Mushandi said walking to work is now the norm for many workers in Chinhoyi. A Chinhoyi council employee, who has not been paid his salary for the last five months, said boarding a minibus has now become a luxury. Chinhoyi-based health expert, Dr. Maynard Kuchwa, said although people are complaining of walking to work they encourage people to do so as a form of exercise to fight obesity. Meanwhile, most workers in Chinhoyi did not heed a call to stay away on Wednesday and Thursday as most shops, companies and banks were open.