Outrage as Worker’s $5 000 USD Arrears Slashed to 8 Cents by Chitungwiza Council
Outrage as Chitungwiza Municipality Offers Worker 8 CENTS Despite Acknowledging He Was Initially Owed Over $5,000 USD
In a shocking turn of events, Chitungwiza Municipality has offered one of its former workers less than 8 cents (USD), despite initially acknowledging that he was owed $5,156.95 USD in salary arrears. A letter confirming the municipality’s calculations has sparked outrage online, with critics questioning the fairness of the process that reduced thousands of dollars to pocket change.
Human rights lawyer Obey Shava and the advocacy group Heal Zimbabwe Trust shared the letter on social media, sparking heated discussions about workers’ rights and the impact of currency changes on savings.
“From Thousands to Cents”
The letter, dated 5 November 2024 and signed by Chitungwiza Municipality Finance Director E. Machona, confirmed the former employee’s original entitlement.
“You were owed USD 5,156.95 when your contract with Council was terminated in August 2015,” the letter read, acknowledging the debt in clear terms.
However, the letter goes on to outline a series of currency conversions that drastically reduced the debt’s value.
“In February 2019 there was a transition from USD to RTGS at a rate of 1:1 which meant that USD 5,156.95 became RTGS 5,156.95,” it continued.
According to the letter, this RTGS amount was then converted again on 5 April 2024 into Zimbabwe’s new currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), at an official rate of 1:2498.7274. The result? A balance of just ZiG 2.06, which now equates to roughly 8 US cents.
Public Outrage Over “Insulting” Payment
Social media users have reacted strongly to the letter, with many calling it an insult to the worker’s hard-earned dues.
Zimbabwean entrepreneur Kuda Musasiwa (@begottensun) captured the mood with a tweet:
“A true story about a worker who was owed $5,156.95 USD and how he was robbed till they owed him less than 0.05 cents USD.”
He ended with crying emojis and the Zimbabwean flag, underscoring the heartbreak and frustration many feel.
Others pointed fingers at Zimbabwe’s financial policies, linking the matter to what they believe is a pattern of devaluing workers’ earnings.
“This is the Mthuli Ncube legacy,” commented user @Takura86, referencing Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister in a tweet that quickly gained traction.
Legal and Financial Concerns
The incident has also raised questions about the legality of such currency conversions, especially when they result in extreme devaluation. Some are now calling for a review of Zimbabwe’s financial systems to prevent similar cases.
Human rights advocates have criticised the municipality’s actions as unfair, with lawyer Obey Shava and Heal Zimbabwe Trust pushing for greater accountability.
The two have argued that workers should not suffer the consequences of currency reforms, especially when they were promised a specific amount at the time of termination.
Chitungwiza Municipality has yet to release a public response, leaving citizens wondering if the worker will ever see his full dues paid.
Will He Ever Be Paid Fairly?
Zimbabweans are now asking whether this former municipal worker will ever receive compensation that matches his years of service and the original amount he was promised.
Many see this case as emblematic of the economic hardships ordinary citizens face daily in Zimbabwe. Will this former worker receive justice, or will his payment remain stuck at 8 cents?
