OVER 200 disgruntled workers at Caps Holdings yesterday stormed the company’s headquarters in Harare and held their management hostage demanding payment of their salaries which have reportedly remained unpaid for the past 20 months.
STAFF REPORTER
The company’s five managers, including general manager Justice Majaka, were still locked up inside their offices at the time of going to print last night although heavily-armed riot police had surrounded the premises in a bid to scare off the workers.
However, the workers vowed to resist any attempts to disperse them. They said that they took the decision to block the exit doors after Majaka reportedly became arrogant claiming the pharmaceutical company was in the red.
“We have disputed his claims on the basis that we know the true state of the company’s financial status. We recently won a lucrative tender to supply drugs to the National Aids Council and another supply tender to Botswana, so they cannot afford to lie to us that the company is financially unsound,” said a workers’ representative who declined to be named.
“The company owes us salaries, overtime, transport and food allowances for the past 20 months. The just-ended festive season was a nightmare for all of us here after the company failed to pay us even a cent.
“Schools are opening next week and our children are likely to be chased away as we have not been paying fees for the past year, despite being ordered to report for duty religiously,” he said. Both Majaka and Caps Holdings board chairman Fred Mtandah could not be reached for comment.
