adminAlfred Makwarimba
As workers in Zimbabwe we are celebrating this May Day against the backdrop of serious economic challenges which have impacted negatively on our workers, we are experiencing serious job losses due to company closures and workers are at times going for more than six months without pay but strangely are forced to report for duty everyday.
As ZFTU, we are aware of the negative impact caused by the illegal sanctions on our political leaders and companies by the West. The unwarranted sanctions are not affecting leaders but the Zimbabwean worker and ordinary person.
This is manifested by the scourge of non-performance in FDI sector and the unavailability of direct lines of credit.
This has resulted in the closure of companies and non-payment of wages.
As ZFTU we would like to urge the west in particular EU and USA to immediately lift unconditionally and unreservedly all the illegal sanctions that have caused so much suffering to our workers.
ZFTU is also fully cognisant of the fact that some of the remaining industries are controlled by unscrupulous individuals who are bent on profiteering through exploiting the workers hence a syndrome that goes by the saying “Mbudzi inodya payakasungirirwa”.
We all have witnessed how looting by management took place at such enterprises as Air Zimbabwe, ZBC, Zesa, Cotcco, PSMAS to mention just but a few.
As reflected by our theme this year which is: “Workers united, more informed as ready to embrace Zim Asset”, which translates to our workers taking charge and control of all industries, it is prerequisite in any country under the globe that “workers are the vanguard of the economy.”
This is further echoed by the teachings of Lenin that, “he who does not work neither shall he eat”.
The 21st century has come about with a new world order which speaks to a win-win situation in commerce, finance and social well-being.
We are now living in a society that is free from colonial bondage, free from imperialism and free from enslavement which was imposed on man by man.
We have a mammoth task ahead of us as a mother body to fight against the now-emerging predatory capitalists who are now trying to smuggle in through the back door, shameless efforts of repealing our labour laws to suit their cheap labour and slavery machinations hence the call for (EPZ) Export Processing Zones.
As ZFTU we are urging the Government through the Ministry of Labour to immediately resume the TNF where all issues will be dealt within the context of a Zimbabwean solution.
The panacea to all our economic misfortunes in our view can only be addressed through the TNF engagement.
As ZFTU we urge the Head of State and Government to take stock of his cabinet ministers in areas of performance and delivery towards the realisation of the Zim Asset programme.
We encourage the President to put to test his ministers in critical ministries to produce results that are short-term based and long term based. It is our wish to engage at full throttle with all the key ministries for us workers to input into the Zim Asset economic blue print as a stakeholder.
Lastly, ZFTU would like to register our appreciation to President Mugabe for his concern for the welfare of workers particularly when he recently dismissed the unwarranted and unresearched declaratory statement on civil servants bonus and allowances by one of his ministers.
ZFTU is urging all the NECs that sit with our affiliates to immediately complete all their negotiations on wages and salaries and we are agitating for a minimum benchmark of US$300 inclusive across all sectors of the economy as a yardstick.
Alfred Makwarimba is President, Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions.
Online Reporter