by Gift Mashoko
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has diverted from its mandate of promoting and safeguarding the economic, social and constitutional freedoms of workers by securing legal, political, democratic and good governance framework in Zimbabwe through strengthening its capacity and independence and those of its affiliates, according to their mission statement. In short, it seems the labour union is now being used by the opposition political parties to fulfil their regime change agenda.
Last week we saw the ZCTU in collaboration with #Thisflag leader Evan Mawarire, circulating a video and calling for the whole of Zimbabwe to shut down and stay away from work. They had also called and encouraged for the so-called peaceful but destructive demonstrations.
As usual the just ended demonstration turned out for the worst as demonstrators turned violent. This violence called for the deployment of Police and Army to patrol the streets and help in the clearing of blocked roads.
There was widespread looting and destruction of shops during last week’s protests. Communities were left struggling to buy the simplest of commodities as they failed to leave their houses and besides if they had gone shopping, they were not able to find anything because businesses were closed, vandalised or looted.
Several people lost their jobs because of the violent protests after their businesses had been destroyed and looted. Instead of ZCTU protecting the workers, they are the ones who caused these violent protests.
ZCTU’s call for a shut down and stay away was hijacked by MDC hooligans who forced people to stay imprisoned in their houses. As they failed to go to work. Even the local vendors could not sell their wares like vegetables.
Targeted vandalised infrastructure seem to have been planned as most vandalised and looted places were linked to the Government as Government vehicles and supermarkets were also burned and stoned, in particular Choppies supermarkets and police cars and ZANU PF cars. This in itself shows that the demo was political.
As professionals, ZCTU should know that their actions together with certain opposition political parties were uncalled for. Instead of working towards helping in reviving the economy, they have pulled back the nation’s development.
The Government now has to invest in rebuilding vandalised buildings and helping business people by giving them what they can so that their business get back on track.
The money they had invested for the development of the nation is now being used in last week’s aftermath. People have nothing to sell after the looting and most of them are now grounded financially incapable of restocking and getting back on track.
Workers no longer trust the protection of ZCTU seeing that it is the one that called for this violent protests. ZCTU along with some opposition political parties have instilled fear in people as they are now afraid of even walking to the shopping centres and walking to the bus stops.
People now have to walk for a genuine cause because just taking a stroll in one’s neighbourhood is now frightening as people fear these violent hooligans.
The demonstration brought a lot of harm to most business. Some now still fear opening their shops for fear of their buildings being vandalised again. People are now afraid because of the stealing and this seems to have been masterminded by people with a hidden agenda of tarnishing Zimbabwe’s image.
These protests by the ZCTU and opposition political parties, MDC-A in particular will cost the Government lots of money to fix vandalised buildings. Potential investors will also end up fearing coming to invest in Zimbabwe.
