Innocent Mujeri
MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has suffered a huge blow following defeat of his ally in the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Peter Mutasa, who lost the presidency to his former deputy Florence Taruvinga.
A source who spoke to this publication said the MDC Alliance leader had previously endorsed Mutasa for re-election as the ZCTU president, however he lost the presidency by 14 votes.
“The MDC Alliance were backing Mutasa to be re-elected as the ZCTU president. No one was giving Taruvinga a chance to defeat the heavily financially backed Mutasa. However, when results were announced, Taruvinga defeated Mutasa by 73 votes to Mutasa’s 53,” said the source.
The source said out of the 31 affiliates, 26 voted yesterday and there was a general consensus among members that Mutasa should be ousted for abandoning the core business of ZCTU while meddling in opposition politics.
“There was a general consensus among members that Mutasa should be ousted for hobnobbing with the MDC Alliance while neglecting the core business of ZCTU. Mutasa was now behaving as an elected official of the MDC Alliance and this was the reason he lost the presidency,” added the source.
According to the source, Taruvinga, who is National Energy Workers Union of Zimbabwe (NEWUZ) leader and also a ZESA technician, anchored her campaign message on ‘rescuing ZCTU from the grip of the MDC Alliance’ and her message was warmly received by members.
The source added that Mutasa also lost the presidency because members were not receptive to his idea of forcing the labour body to join opposition politics. Mutasa was also let down by various accusations of maladministration and embezzlement of funds.
The source further said that with Mutasa at the helm, ZCTU had been reduced to a puppet of the MDC Alliance and this prompted ZIMTA to break away from ZCTU in 2019 accusing the labour body, and particularly Mutasa, of undermining the cause of workers.
According to the source, Taruvinga will be deputized by Valentine Chikosi and Nicholas Mazarura. The new executive will also have Douglas Chiradza (treasurer), Runesu Dzimiri and Kudakwashe Munengiwa (deputy secretaries).
Taruvinga is the first female president of ZCTU and before her elevation she was Mutasa’s deputy.
