Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) commuter omnibus drivers have ended their strike after the state-owned company paid part of the money owed to the drives.
The drivers yesterday staged a full day sit-in at the company’s Kelvin depot in Bulawayo protesting against salary arrears and poor working conditions.
The drivers said they were owed two months salary.
Speaking to CITE, the drivers said they were informed on Thursday morning that part of the salary they are owed had been deposited into their bank accounts.
“We have resumed work today, we had to first wait by the depot for the confirmation that the money had been deposited into our accounts,” said one driver.
“We gave them up by Tuesday next week to pay us the remaining balance and if they don’t keep their promise we will stage another sit-in again.”
Another driver who was yet to receive his salary said he had resumed his duties.
“We have not yet received our salaries, we hope it will reflect by day end; we just decided to resume work today even though some of us have not yet received what we are owed salaries as we felt pity for the passengers who were stranded yesterday,” he said.
Contacted for a comment, ZUPCO Southern Region Manager, Tinaye Rwasoka said he does not have permission to speak to journalists and directed the publication to the acting chief executive officer, Evaristo Madangwa whose mobile phone rang unanswered.
Apart from salary arrears, the kombi drivers also complained of unfair working hours.
