The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) is reportedly behind on paying its former employees, with some owed more than six months of salaries in U.S. dollars.
Former workers of the company have expressed frustration, claiming that ZUPCO has been settling their dues only in the local Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency. One worker, who asked to remain anonymous, shared that they last received payment in U.S. dollars in June of the previous year and left the company in May but has not been paid the arrears.
Another ex-employee revealed a lack of communication from management regarding the situation. They mentioned the formation of a group of former workers who are considering legal action to recover their outstanding salaries.
A former worker also described her experience of visiting the ZUPCO depot in Bulawayo, where she was passed from office to office in an attempt to address the unpaid wages. She complained of being mistreated and said that whenever she tried to speak with managers, she was told that the financial officers were unavailable. The worker added that the company had not offered any apology or explanation for the overdue payments, leaving many employees struggling to meet their obligations.
Melody Dege, the ZUPCO Kelvin depot manager, declined to comment when approached by NewsDay, stating she could not discuss the matter over the phone.
ZUPCO, which has recently been placed under the Mutapa Investment Fund, has faced financial difficulties in recent years. This situation persists despite the company holding a public transport monopoly for over two years during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
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