By Gift Mashoko

Eleven MDC Alliance youths ran amok, baying for the blood of Redcliff MDC Alliance Mayor, Clayton Masiyatsvina whom they accuse of refusing to pay them their dues for clearing storm drains in the mining town of Redcliff.

Circumstances are that Redcliff town council hired the eleven youths to clear the storm drain in Redcliff which they did, but were not paid. The youths made several attempts to get their money to no avail with some instances being denied audience with the authorities by the mayor’s security.

Last week, the youth lost patience and gathered at Redcliff Civic Center where they viciously demanded to be addressed by the mayor. However, the youth were told that the mayor was not available, a response which they did not take.

The youths started singing songs with derogatory words like, “Takuvhotera wotishandisa mahara”, “Ziva zvawakavhoterwa.” They also held placards with the words “Mbavha makajaira kuba”, “Toda mari yedu”, “Tiri vanhu semi”.

The youths later learnt that the mayor was at that moment chairing a meeting at house number L64, Torwood. They charged to the venue and stormed into the meeting disrupting the proceedings. The youths went on to destroy property at the house.

MDC Alliance has a history of not paying its workers, but ironically they claim to fight for workers' rights. The party was taken to court in 2017 for abusing the rights of workers of fair compensation, including its former Director General, Toendepi Shonhe who was owed $264 444.  

MDC Alliance lost the case at the High Court after they had gone for months on end without paying their workers. The party was forced to pay $400 000 to settle unpaid wages.