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boycotting the labour body’s congress that began in Bulawayo yesterday.
The faction led by outgoing secretary general, Mr Wellington Chibebe, said the congress would go ahead as planned, adding that ZCTU first vice president, Ms Lucia Matibenga, had since been appointed to lead proceedings.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Matombo said attending the congress would amount to legitimising a process he felt was unlawful.
The boycott came as the High Court dismissed a petition by some ZCTU affiliates aligned to Mr Matombo that sought to stop the congress.
Justice Susan Mavangira dismissed the application saying the matter was not urgent. But Mr Matombo said the congress was riddled with irregularities and attending it would sanitise something that was illegal.
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“There are people who are just going there but are not members of ZCTU and that will bring the union into disrepute. I will not attend because it is not a legitimate process,” said Mr Matombo. “We don’t want people who are not members to attend even if he/she might be a single person.”
Mr Matombo said he remained ZCTU president and his position would not be affected by the Bulawayo meeting. “As president of ZCTU, I should not be seen at such a meeting because of its legitimacy,” he said.
However, Mr Chibebe said the congress would go ahead as planned.
“The general council elected the first vice president, Mai Matibenga to chair in terms of the union’s constitution, which says the first vice president or any other person can be elected to preside,” he said.
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He dismissed claims that the congress was illegitimate, saying only the general council or a court of law was authorised to stop it, not a mere pronouncement.
Mr Chibebe said the general council had deliberated on a letter written by Mr Matombo that sought to stop the congress and had responded to him accordingly.
“We responded to him saying the general council had allowed the congress to meet and proceed,” he said.
Some ZCTU affiliates, led by Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary general, Mr Raymond Majongwe, had threatened to expel anyone who attended the Bulawayo congress.
They said there was need to first address issues that had been identified as impediments to the smooth holding of the congress before convening it.
Online Reporter