The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has handed over petitions expressing its dismay over the deteriorating economic situation in the country amid reports that nationwide demonstrations were a flop.
The ZCTU says the petitions were delivered Monday at provincial and national government offices, including the office of the Minister of Labour Priscah Mupfumira as their offices were closed at the weekend.
Some ZCTU members staged peaceful demonstrations in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru, Masvingo and Chinhoyi, demanding that the government act on the plight of the workers.
Some reports suggest the demonstrations were a flop as most people chose to concentrate on their business.
But the workers body's acting information officer Last Tarabuku tells Studio 7 the street marches were a success despite attempts to block the demonstrations by some people who distributed fake ZCTU fliers telling workers to stay at home.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa on Monday announced that the government has suspended civil servants' bonus payments until 2017.
The ZBC reported that the minister said this was part of measures the cash-strapped government was taking to contain unsustainable recurrent expenditure.
The report said the government also aims to create fiscal space to support socio-economic transformations.
