by Christopher Makaza
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) president Peter Mutasa's involvement in national politics has created a hostile relationship between Government and the labour union.
This came out during the ZCTU’s Internal Accountability Programme workshop for General Secretaries held in Kadoma last week, where labour unions accused Mutasa of using the name of the union to achieve personal political ambitions.
Energy Sector Workers Union of Zimbabwe (ESWUZ), Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Trade Workers Union (ZCATWU) were among the ZCTU affiliates who attended the workshop, which Mutasa reportedly left prematurely for Harare giving an excuse that he was not feeling well due to food poisoning.
According to a ZCTU close contact who attended the workshop, the labour unions queried why Mutasa always attends MDC-Alliance functions as ZCTU representative without the mandate of the General Council. The unions suggested that Mutasa is free to attend such events in his personal capacity and not as ZCTU official.
According to the contact, the unions unanimously agreed that for the ZCTU to be effective, it should dissociate from the opposition politics for it to achieve meaningful progress in negotiations with the Government.
Relatedly, the contact revealed that the unions strongly denounced the calling for national demonstrations to please the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC-A) adding that ZCTU members who benefited from the relationship should not drag everyone into their cause.
The unions resolved to disown Mutasa if he goes on to call for national action without the General Council mandate.
Mutasa is also being accused of abusing ZCTU social media groups to advance his political agenda.
Meanwhile, the unions turned down a proposal by ZCTU Secretary General Japhet Moyo that all unions including those not paid up their subscriptions should attend this year’s elective congress.
The unions viewed the development as a campaign tool aimed at luring the affiliates to re-elect Mutasa as the President.
There is a growing outcry from ZCTU members over the continued leadership of Mutasa who is now acting more like an opposition spokesperson than a labour union leader.
