ZIM GBC REPORTERS
THE ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS (ZCTU) on Monday joined the rest of the working class worldwide in commemorating Workers Day.
The commemorations were held at the Small City Hall in Bulawayo.
Various stakeholders graced the program such as the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare, National Energy Workers Union of Zimbabwe (NEWUZ), Zimbabwe Labour Centre, National Social Security Authority (NSSA), Zimbabwe Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union, ZCTEA and Zimbabwe Passengers Association.
The City Fathers, and Bulawayo City Council (BCC) management were conspicuous of their absence despite the fact that the celebrations were being held in their homestead.
When the master of ceremony called three times for a representative from either the Bulawayo Council Management or the Councillors non stood up to give a word of solidarity.
The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mlandu Ncube made a cameo appearance outside the venue well after every speech was given and the event had ended.
Recent strikes and rallies in Zimbabwe have frequently centered on calls for higher pay, better working conditions, and other significant workers rights. Additionally, the Congress of Trade Unions in Zimbabwe has a history of being quite outspoken when presenting issues and trying to mobilize voters for or against candidates based on their stance on workers’ rights.
“…in ZIMBABWE we are not celebrating this day today we are commemorating it, why? It’s because as workers we are facing a lot of challenges we are poor, we are getting slave salaries and our laws are very oppressive in terms of Labour Act so in short we are not enjoying anything…as workers we believe that our serious challenge lies on the issue of corruption. This Country is very rich in terms of natural resources but because some people are busy looting that is why we find ourselves in such a scenario.” said ZCTU Western Region Chairman Ambrose Sibindi.
He further explained the oppressiveness side of the Labour Act.
He bemoaned the issue of workers not given their pension funds, health and safety issues not guaranteed.
“A strike is a legal right of workers worldwide. When we get to strike we are trying to show the world that we have been speaking to our employers about these things but they are not doing anything”, added Sibindi.
The May Day celebrations ran under the theme: ‘Workers Demand An Inclusive Zimbabwe Free From Poverty, Corruption, and Oppression’.
Paul Makiwa the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Passengers Association highlighted the fact that workers are also oppressed as passengers.
“Passengers are overcharged by operators and also three-quarters of those operators charge in US dollar whereas most workers are paid in Zimbabwean dollars such that they have to go to the black market to change at a high rate and at the end of the month passengers are impoverished on this issue”, he said.
“…the drive behind the program is to urge to improve both the quantity and quality of employment in eradicating violence and harassment in the world of work and improve working conditions in the informal and rural economics among others.”, said the Minister of Labour Officer Mazviita Chinyoka.
In past years, Zimbabwean workers commemorated International Workers Day (1 May) in packed stadiums to accommodate a large number of workers, however, halls have been utilized due to low turnout.
Has the ZCTU turned into a toothless dog that workers no longer rally under the workers banner?
However, higher percentage of people no longer commemorate Worker’s Day because they have simply opted to spend time in their business as more people have turned into informal businesses.