Employees of the Zambezi Meat Corporation (ZAMCO) are calling on the Office of the Prime Minister to intervene in what they describe as a collapse of operations and management at the Katima Mulilo Abattoir.
The employees staged a demonstration, citing months of unpaid salaries and wages, discrepancies in salary payments, and deteriorating working conditions.
Livestock Procurement Clerk at ZAMCO, Lunza Sibalatani, explained, "So in that first month we got paid, but what we got paid, what was on the payslip, and what was in our accounts did not correspond, and then we also got those salaries late, so we also have herders who are in the quarantine camps herding cattle purchased by Zamco, who have not yet been paid since June when they started herding the Zamco livestock, so from June up to date, they have not been paid as well, and then the abattoir employees who are 66, they have also not been paid from August."
ZAMCO took over operations of the abattoir from Meatco earlier this year with conditions that employees and local farmers would not be affected in any way.
However, the workers say the situation on the ground has fallen short of those commitments.
"We have been met with total operational breakdown, broken promises and months of unpaid wages. The employees are demanding the verification and full settlement of outstanding salaries, wages and back pay owed to abattoir and quarantine workers, stressed Shop Steward Patric Munembo.
They are also calling for an investigation into the financial management of the abattoir, as well as government intervention to identify an alternative company capable of restoring operations and securing jobs, saying that the current operator is unable to sustain the facility or respect the workers' rights.
The financial impact has extended beyond the workplace, with some now facing pressure from creditors.
The employees handed their petition to Zambezi Governor Dorothy Kabula.
"Thank you very much for your peaceful demonstration and petition. We are going to send this to the relevant office, and more especially the Office of the Prime Minister, as stated in your petition."
Zamco Chairperson Alfred Chilinda declined to comment on the situation until he officially meets with management.
However, Chilinda noted he previously met with workers regarding wages, stating they are well aware of his position and the company's financial struggles as a new operator.
He expressed surprise over the demonstration, adding that management was still actively reviewing the workers' grievances when they took to the streets.