TAZARA workers down tools

Unionized workers at the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) have illegally withdrawn their labour, demanding their three months unpaid salaries.
And TAZARA has announced the suspension of both freight and passenger operations between Dar es Salaam and Tunduma until further notice due to the on-going strike.

TAZARA Head Public Relations (PRO) Conrad Simuchile who confirmed the development to ZANIS in a statement in Lusaka said some workers in the neighbouring Tanzania and Zambia have not gotten their salaries for February, March and April 2014.

Mr. Simuchile said all stations between Dar es Salaam and Tunduma in the Tanzanian Region are affected while the Kasama TAZARA station is affected on the Zambian side.

Mr. Simuchile said as a consequence of the on-going illegal strike, which started yesterday May 12, he regretted the suspension of freight and passenger operations.

“As a consequence of the on-going illegal strike, which started on 12 May 2014, TAZARA regrets to announce the suspension of both freight and passenger operations between Dar es Salaam and Tunduma until further notice,” he said.

He however said normal operations will continue between Nakonde and New Kapiri-Mposhi on the Zambian side.

The TAZARA PRO assured the public that management at his institution was making frantic efforts to resolve the situation and ensure that normal operations resume as quickly as possible.