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Zvamaida Murwira and Felex Share Harare Bureau—
All is set for the all-inclusive and massive Workers Day celebrations in Harare today organised by the government as it moves in to revive the commemorations that had lost lustre in the past years due to the politicisation of trade unionism. The celebrations come as workers yesterday snubbed celebrations organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions at 17 centres countrywide.
Today’s celebrations are slated for Rufaro Stadium in Mbare. Workers Day is celebrated on May 1 the world over but for convenience, the government moved the celebrations to today.
ZCTU ignored calls by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira for all labour unions to gather under one roof for workers to re-establish links with the government.
The union reneged on an earlier agreement it had assented to at the eleventh hour. A number of Cabinet Ministers are lined up to attend today’s commemorations to hear for themselves the workers grievances and time permitting, respond to some of them.
According to a provisional programme gleaned by our Harare Bureau, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be the guest of honour. Several labour movements are expected to deliver their messages at an event, which will begin with a procession by trade unions leaders from Gulf Complex along Chinhoyi Street to Rufaro Stadium. The Civil Service Commission is providing transport to all the workers intending to be at the stadium.
Minister Mupfumira yesterday said today was more convenient to the workers and Ministers since it was a public holiday. She accused ZCTU of pursuing an ulterior motive by agreeing for a joint commemoration, only to turn around at the last minute. “The idea was for the labour movements to hold joint celebrations where we invite all government ministers to listen to concerns by workers,” she said.
“Discussions started way back last year and ZCTU agreed in all those meetings including a meeting we had this year. We’re surprised that they’re now turning around. They’ve their own agenda.”
On today’s transport logistics the CSC said: “The Civil Service Commission fully supports and welcomes the initiative of going back to organise the workers celebrations. As employer of Zimbabwe’s largest workforce, the CSC is urging all Civil Servants to heed the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare’s call to celebrate the day at Rufaro Stadium. Public Service Commission buses will ferry all workers wishing to attend the celebrations from the usual pick up points at 6AM”
The ZCTU proceeded to hold its main celebrations at Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield yesterday that was poorly attended and even snubbed by their traditional allies, the MDC-T.
The situation was the same at all the other 16 centres in other provinces, with less than 15 people attending in some areas. Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions secretary general, Kennias Shamuyarira, said all was set for today’s ‘united’ gathering.
“We held several meetings and it was agreed during principals’ meetings in which ZCTU led by its president George Nkiwane was present,” he said.
“We’ve been organising for such an event until a fortnight ago when ZCTU turned around to say they hadn’t been given the mandate by their general council. We were surprised but we realised that their handlers had vetoed their decision. Holding a joint commemoration wouldn’t have allowed their handlers like MDC-T to attend. They’re bringing politics in labour issues.”
In response, ZCTU’s secretary general, Japhet Moyo, said the message that the desire for joint commemorations had come from Cabinet did not go down well with them. “It has to come from social partners and not from Cabinet because that would be interference,” he said.
“We were also not happy with the fact that the letter inviting us was written by a junior officer instead of the permanent secretary as what has been the case in all correspondences. The letter was written by a Ms Sibiya, a legal officer, who is a junior officer. In any event, we had already made preparations including paying for the venues.”
He attributed low turnout to the state of the economy, which he said was not performing. “Previously, we had people in formal employment assured of a salary,” Moyo said.
“That’s no longer the case. People are now in informal employment. A person can’t leave his street corner for a gathering. Last year we had 24 commemoration centres but this year we only had 17 centres, all this is attributed to the economy.”
In his address to a handful of workers, Moyo said problems facing workers required a political solution and urged people to go and register to vote.
Online Reporter