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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 21654, member: 2262"] In a shocking and tragic incident, two Gweru City Council employees, Richard Longwe and Mary Svinurai, lost their lives while working under a manhole. They choked on poisonous gases, leaving their colleagues and loved ones devastated. The funeral for these two dedicated workers was held in Gweru over the weekend, but protests and accusations from other council workers marred it. They booed and remonstrated with management, accusing them of negligence and failing to provide adequate protective gear that could have saved Longwe and Svinurai's lives. The funeral wake was tense and emotional, with workers expressing anger and frustration towards the council's leadership. In the aftermath of this tragic event, the Gweru City Council has taken swift action against four workers who allegedly participated in the protests and made insulting comments towards management. The council suspended these employees without pay, citing their behavior at the funeral and on a WhatsApp group as grounds for the disciplinary action. The suspension letter, seen by The Herald, states that the employees made malicious and insulting remarks about their superiors to incite violence, ridicule, or cause despondency among council employees. The letter also accuses the workers of continuing to utter insulting words towards the City of Gweru and its management at the funeral in front of residents and other stakeholders. The suspended employees are barred from reporting for duty, entering council premises, or acting on behalf of the council during their suspension. They must also surrender any council documents or assets they hold to their supervisor. One of the suspended workers, who requested anonymity, believes the suspension is unfair and unjustified, claiming that the council has a history of suspending employees without thorough investigations. The worker suggests that the commission is losing money by paying suspended employees who are not working and expresses confidence in winning against the "trumped up charges." David Chikore, the executive director of the Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association Trust, has condemned the suspension of the four employees. He argues that workers should be allowed to express their feelings, especially after such a shocking and painful incident. While Chikore acknowledges that the council may have felt insulted by the workers' comments, he believes they should not have been so quick to effect suspensions. He calls on the council not to victimize workers with genuine grievances and to handle the situation more with empathy and understanding. As the Gweru City Council and its employees grapple with the aftermath of this tragic incident, the community is left to mourn the loss of two dedicated workers and to question the council's handling of the situation. The suspension of the four employees has only added to the tension and controversy surrounding the deaths of Longwe and Svinurai, leaving many to wonder if the council's actions are truly in the best interest of its workers and the community it serves. [/QUOTE]

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