Re-elected ZCTU leadership threaten strike action if negotiations fail

By Lance Guma
22 May 2006

After getting a fresh mandate from workers in the country the leadership of the main labour body, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has threatened strike action over poor working conditions. The Union’s President Lovemore Matombo and Secretary General Wellington Chibhebhe were re-elected at a weekend congress in Harare. In an interview with Newsreel on Monday ZCTU spokesman Mlamleli Sibanda says although they will give dialogue with government a chance, time was running out and they might have to resort to strike action very soon. He says workers, employers and unions are not making any progress in the Tripartite Negotiating Forum.

The plight of farm workers also came under the spotlight during the two day congress. It was resolved that all the other unions will rally behind the General Plantation and Farm Workers Union if they plan any strikes over conditions on the farms. Sibanda told Newsreel that farm workers are getting Z$1 million a month in wages and that this was the equivalent of 10 loaves of bread. Meanwhile the High Court ruled on Friday that the deportation of ZCTU delegates during the week was illegal. Several international delegates to the congress were deported last week under instruction from the Ministry of Labour. The court dealt with the case of Alice Siame from Zambia and another Norwegian delegate Nina Mjoberg, but remained silent on the deportation of COSATU Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi.

Full list of ZCTU leadership:

President: Lovemore Matombo
First Vice President: Lucia Matibenga
Second Vice President: George Nkiwane
Third Vice President: Thabitha Khumalo
Secretary General: Wellington Chibhebhe
First Deputy SG: Japhet Moyo
Second Deputy SG: Gideon Shoko
Treasurer: Ester Khumbulani