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Tinomuda Chakanyuka, Senior Reporter
THE Federation of Zimbabwe Educators’ Unions (Fozeu) has expressed concern over the mushrooming of teachers’ unions registered in the country, calling for the revision of laws that strictly regulate the establishment of labour unions.
Fozeu brings together five main teachers’ unions with the aim of having a unified and strong sectorial voice for teachers. The unions are Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta), Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) Professional Educators’ Union of Zimbabwe (Peuz) and the Zimbabwe National Teachers’ Union (Zinatu).
There are nine registered teachers’ unions in the country, a development Fozeu feels splits the voice of educators and causes confusion in the pursuit to better the welfare of educators.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu, who chairs Fozeu’s steering committee, said some of the teachers’ unions have a paltry membership of 10 people. He said the country’s labour laws should thus be revised to regulate the activities of unions to avoid duplication of activities and “splinterism”.
“As we continue with our labour law reform, a threshold has to be set in terms of the number of unions that can be registered as well as regulate their institutional mandate. There is need to limit the number of unions that can be registered to deal with the confusion that comes with having numerous unions,” Mr Ndlovu said.
He added, “We have nine unions all claiming to be representing teachers yet we know that only a few are pursuing their mandate. Some are formed to pursue personal interests.”
Mr Ndlovu said some of the unions that purport to represent the interests of teachers were often seen opposing efforts by fellow unions to improve the welfare of teachers, raising questions on their legitimacy.
“Having many unions splits the voice of teachers and it fragments efforts to better teachers’ welfare. In some cases some of these unions are seen opposing efforts to better teachers’ welfare and you begin to wonder whose interests they stand for.
“Some of these unions were formed by people with the desire to lead, leading to commercialisation of trade unionism,” he said.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou, however, said there was nothing wrong with having many teachers’ unions but called for strict regulation.
He said the law should be applied to weed out “briefcase unions” who do not follow the law in terms of membership, holding of electoral congresses and conferences.
“The law is very clear on issues of membership, holding of electoral congresses and conferences which are prerequisite. The law has to be applied fairly and without favour.
“We have these briefcase unions that are produced in offices and do not comply with provisions of the law, they must be weeded out.
“I agree that there must be strict regulation of unions in terms of the three aspects I spoke about, but such regulation should not necessarily entail limiting the number of unions,” he said.
Teachers’ unions last month came together to form Fozeu to push for improved working conditions for teachers.-@irielyan
Online Reporter