Gift Mashoko
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is now a pale shadow of itself forcing its leadership to become political activists of the opposition MDC which is now compelling its affiliates to abandon the beleaguered labour union.
Their political involvement has force-marched the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) from the labour union after accusing it of being intensively involved in opposition politics and undermining the cause of workers.
ZCTU is the country's biggest worker representative with most of its members in different sectors of industry in Zimbabwe. They have deviated from their mission statement which is “To promote, advance and safeguard 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.”
To reasons best known to the ZCTU leadership, the organisation has become more visible on MDC gatherings were they sing from the same MDC violence hymn book of inciting mayhem through demonstrations and stay-aways which goes against proffering solutions to the current economic challenges affecting workers.
ZCTU in January called for a stay away which lasted three days and led to the death of several people, destruction of many businesses resulting in loss of employment for many workers. The ZCTU President Peter Mutasa together with #Tajamuka leader Pastor Evan Mawarire who is well known for working with MDC in violent demos and stay-aways were at the fore-front of these violent demos where in some cases, workers who did not heed their calls for a stay-away were man-handled by violent youths.
Are these actions or attributes of a good leader who purports to represent the very people, he is prejudicing? Some workers knew that not for reporting for work will mean a reduced earning further straining their already lean pockets.
The ZCTU did not offer any assistance to businesspersons who lost their goods and had their buildings destroyed. The lootings and destructions that transpired during the January shut-down affected the worker negatively and some would have failed to recover had it not been for Government which came in to financially assist people whose businesses had been destroyed. What kind labour body would associate with this kind of lawlessness which the whole world witnessed during the three days?
Although the ZCTU spearheaded the formation of MDC in 1999, with its initial top leadership from the labour movement, it is not reason enough for them to be wholly immersed in the opposition politics.
One wonders what kind of a labour body the ZCTU is which instead of joining hands with Government in its ongoing efforts to turn the economy around and to create jobs, the labour union instead fights Governments efforts to help the workers.
ZCTU’s political involvement was clearly visible on this year’s Workers Day commemorations held in Dzivarasekwa where most attendees were wearing MDC regalia chanting MDC slogans. Both Nelson Chamisa who was an invited guest and the ZCTU leaders spoke against Government, plotting more stay aways.
ZCTU should know that Chamisa is different from the late Morgan Tsvangirai who had his origins in the ZCTU. Chamisa does not care about workers as evidenced by the Zuva case which led to the firing of more than 20 000 workers. Chamisa represented Zuva which won a case against its workers which opened an avalanche of workers being fired on three months’ notice.
A good number of affiliate unions are complaining that the subscriptions they are paying are being abused and some of the monies are being channelled to MDC activities. It doesn’t need a rocket scientists to know that if affiliates leave in droves, it will signed the beginning of the end of the ZCTU.
The ZCTU leadership should respect workers and work on labour issues or else leave the labour union and engage in fulltime politics.
