adminWalter Mswazie Correspondent
A few people turned up for low-key Workers Day commemorations organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union at Mucheke Stadium on Wednesday. The stadium was virtually empty with around 20 people in attendance. In his address, ZCTU national executive member Mr Nicholas Mazarura said it was disturbing to note that Workers Day was being celebrated at a time more than 70 percent of workers had lost their jobs in the past five years.
He said no country in the world would develop without workers hence the need for employers to observe workers’ rights.
“There is no country that can develop without workers. We can see that there is poor attendance and that can be attributed to the loss of jobs by a number of workers, as many companies have closed shop. More than 70 percent of workers have lost their jobs in the last five years,” said Mr Mazarura.
He challenged the Government to prioritise job creation in its developmental agenda so that people could get employed and also contribute to the growth of the country’s economy.
“We urge the Government to make sure that it creates jobs for our unemployed youths. It should observe workers’ rights through better remuneration and conditions of service.
“As we are heading for harmonised elections sometime in July, we would look into all contesting parties’ manifestos to see if they consider the workers’ welfare,” he said.
“It may be Zanu-PF or MDC Alliance, we are going to interrogate their manifestos as a labour body in the country,”he said.
He hailed fallen trade unionists for championing workers’ activism beginning in the late 1950s, singling out the likes of the late Father Zimbabwe and veteran nationalist and late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo, the late Zanu Ndonga leader Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole and late MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.
“These late luminaries played a bigger role in trade union activities. They led us to where we are today as trade unionists in this country. We should not tire in protecting the rights of all workers in the country.”
Masvingo Mayor Councillor Hubert Fidze hailed ZCTU for observing the day despite the obtaining challenges bedevilling the country’s economy.
“Despite the hardships, the ZCTU has been holding these celebrations every year in Masvingo and that should be commended,” said Clr Fidze.
Online Reporter