Tazara workers resume duties after minister’s intervention
An employee of the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority Amri Hussein asks a question during the workers’ meeting with Transport minister Harrison Mwakyembe which took place in Dar es Salaam on Sunday. The minister helped to resolve the standoff.
PHOTO | VENANCE NESTORY
What you need to know:
- Speaking to The Citizen, the Tanzania Railway Association of workers (TRAW) vice chairman for Dar es salaam and Coast zone, Mr Yassin Mleke, said all workers resumed work since yesterday.
Dar es Salaam. After 16 days of Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) workers’ strike, the employees yesterday resumed their duties after the management confirmed the payment of their three-month salaries.
The workers reached a consensus with the management after the minister for Transport, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, visited Tazara head office on Sunday.
Speaking to workers and reporters on Sunday, Dr Mwakyembe said that the 16 day strike had caused a huge loss worth Sh2.1 billion and that the management should immediately deal with the problem so that normal activities could resume.
Speaking to The Citizen, the Tanzania Railway Association of workers (TRAW) vice chairman for Dar es salaam and Coast zone, Mr Yassin Mleke, said all workers resumed work since yesterday. “We have decided to resume work after being paid our money...we thank Mr Mwakyembe for recognising our position in building up this country’s economy and providing social services,” he said.
He added that Dr Mwakyembe has asked TRAW to be patient for at least a month so that the government and the Tazara management can discuss the matter and find a lasting solution to other problems that have been hindering performance. Tazara public relations officer Regina Tarimo, said all train routes were in operation since yesterday.
