Ongoing legitimacy fight worries ZCTU factions

have expressed concern that their squabbles might lead to workers losing confidence in them.
In separate interviews yesterday the factions, one led by Mr George Nkiwane and the other by Mr Lovemore Matombo, said the squabbles that have been raging in the courts since August last year after a ZCTU congress in Bulawayo were likely to cause mistrust among workers they represent.
Mr Nkiwane was elected ZCTU president in the disputed August election, while Mr Matombo was the incumbent going into that elective congress, which was held in Bulawayo.
The splinter faction led by Mr Matombo last week held its elective congress despite a High Court ruling that the gathering was illegal.
“The workers might end up not trusting our intentions, at the moment they don’t even know which one is the real ZCTU,” said ZCTU secretary- general in the Mr Nkiwane faction, Mr Japhet Moyo.
He said his camp was open to talks with the Mr Matombo faction.
“We are not violent and we are hopeful that the courts will decide the rightful workers’ body since they are not willing to co-operate,” said Mr Moyo.
On threats by the Mr Matombo faction to take over the union’s headquarters, Chester House, in Harare, Mr Moyo said they would not fight, but report them to the police if they turned violent.
The Matombo faction, during its congress at the weekend had resolved that it would occupy the union’s headquarters with immediate effect.
The Mr Matombo-led faction secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said it was worrying to note that the battle for a legitimate ZCTU was still ongoing.
He echoed Mr Moyo’s sentiments saying: “The workers that we say we are representing will end up not trusting us.”
Mr Majongwe said they would let the courts play their part, as the Mr Nkiwane faction declined to engage in dialogue with them.
The battle for the control of the country’s largest labour union took another turn last week when a new judge was appointed to handle the case after Justice Ben Hlatshwayo recused himself.
He had earlier proposed that the two parties engage in a dialogue, but to no avail.
Justice Francis Bere was appointed to hear the case and on Friday handed a judgment barring the holding of last week’s congress.
The Mr Nkiwane faction, however, has maintained that they are the legitimate executive and they would remain in power until the next congress after five years.