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Enumerators Demand Payment of Outstanding Allowances

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Tatenda Gumbo

29.11.2012

WASHINGTON — Some enumerators, who were involved in Zimbabwe’s national population census, say they have not been fully paid their allowances about three months after completing the exercise.
 
The enumerators, who were expecting to be paid more than $800 each for their work during the national census, said they have so far only received about $300.

The process, which was shaky from the start in August after security agents and Zanu PF functionaries threatened to take over the process, left many out of the scheme and a follow-up exercise in the middle of September did not live up to expectations.
 
Population census officials reached by VOA Studio 7 said the payment process was out of their hands, adding that all questions should be referred to the Ministry of Finance.
 
Takavafira Zhou, president of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, said hundreds of enumerators have been unable to contact the relevant authorities on the payments since they are not reachable.
 
"To make matters worse they (enumerators) did not sign clear contracts which would ensure that they would know how much they are going to be paid. It is just a verbal agreement and the majority of the people claim that they will be paid $800,” said Zhou.

He said the relevant authorities should pay enumerators what they are owed "so that in future they will be able to do their work diligently."

In mid-October, motorists in Mutare who provided private vehicles for conducting the national population census complained that they had not been paid their allowances.
 
The disgruntled motorists said the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency had promised to pay them $50 a day but had reneged on the agreement.

The motorists filed a formal complaint and handed over the matter to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
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