Andrew
Last month, Ms Florence Taruvinga made history after she was elected to the position of president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), becoming the first female to hold that post. The Sunday Mail’s Gender and Community Editor, FATIMA BULLA-MUSAKWA (FB) spoke to MS FLORENCE TARUVINGA (FT) on her new responsibilities.
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FB: Congratulations on being elected the first female president of the ZCTU. What does this victory mean to you?
FT: Firstly, I must make it clear that I was not appointed, but I was elected in a free and fair election. This victory means the workers are uniting and speaking with one voice. More importantly, my election means we are continuing with the workers’ struggle, from where my predecessor left.
FB: Who is Florence Taruvinga?
FT: I am a lady aged 33; born on September 5, 1988. I have a passion and interest in attaining decent work at the workplace, organising, safety and health, gender and youth issues. I joined the trade union movement in 2009, and in 2010 was voted vice chairperson of young workers in the Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union (ZEWU). In 2010, I organised young workers in the energy industry to join trade unions and helped them learn about workers’ rights.
In 2013, I was trained by the ZCTU as a shop steward. Between 2013 and 2015, I registered the Energy Sector Workers Union of Zimbabwe (ESWUZ) and had it affiliated to ZCTU.
From 2015 to 2016, I was the union’s national women’s chairperson. In October 2016, I was elected the first vice president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.
I had the responsibility of chairing six sub-committees of the general council. Between 2017 and 2019, I was fired from work for demonstrating against my employer’s failure to observe our collective bargaining agreement. I was later reinstated towards the end of 2019.
In 2021, I was elected president of ZCTU at a highly contested congress.
FB: How did you discover your passion for unionism?
FT: I discovered my passion for unionism very early in my career. I saw a lot of gaps and felt the urge to correct them and make things right.
FB: How do you balance your personal life and being a unionist?
FT: I am married and have a family, but I always keep business independent of my personal life, and my family is my greatest support and strength.
FB: What do you feel has to be urgently addressed in terms of workers’ welfare?
FT: The restoration of workers’ purchasing power is of paramount importance. Inflation has had a devastating effect on salaries across the board. We want decent salaries for decent work. And in this respect, matching current salaries with market demand is critical.
FB: Relations between the ZCTU and Government have been frosty for some time now. How do you intend to mend this relationship and work with Government?
FT: My expectations is that the Government and employers should create an environment conducive to social dialogue for the benefit of the country. We must do away with class antagonism, cronyism and corruption.
At the end of it all, there should be a social contract that binds us all to a vision of a better Zimbabwe. Workers, both in the formal and informal economy, are creators of the country’s wealth and, therefore, deserve respect and to be listened to.
In that respect, the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) should now be operationalised.
The Government must also desist from resisting recommendations from the TNF. The parties in TNF represent the best efforts towards rebuilding the nation.
FB: What is the ZCTU’s focus going forward?
FT: Continuing with the collective push and advocacy for promotion, protection and advancement of workers’ rights.
Continued campaigns against salary disparities, and the restoration of workers’ purchasing power through either granting the demand for US dollar salaries or US dollar indexed salaries.
Respect for the rule of law as well as reformation of the Labour Act, with the Labour Court becoming the court of final appeal in all labour matters.
Online Reporter