News / Local
Nkiwane takes over ZCTU presidency
22 Aug 2011 at 04:39hrs | Views
Mr Lovemore Matombo has been booted out of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions after delegates at their congress voted in Mr George Nkiwane as the new president.
The outgoing president has however vowed not to relinquish his post.
Out of 165 voting delegates that attended the congress at the weekend in Bulawayo, 160 voted for Mr Nkiwane while only two voted for Mr Matombo. The other three were spoilt ballots.
This effectively means the 22 out of 33 affiliate unions have booted out Mr Matombo.
Mr Matombo has indicated that his faction will contest the results.
The other members of the new executive are Ms Sithokozile Siwela, (first vice-president), Mr Watipedza Chigwenda (second vice-president) and Mrs Lucia Matibenga (third vice president).
Mr Japhet Moyo is the new secretary-general taking over from Mr Wellington Chibebe who did not seek re-election as he is joining the Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation. Mr Gideon Shoko and Mr Dickson Tarusenga will deputise Mr Moyo.
The outgoing executive comprises of Mr Matombo who was president, his two deputies Ms Thabitha Khumalo and Blessing Muyira and Mr Chiebe as the secretary-general.
"The divisions are past us now, we know that in the build up to such events there is bound to be opposing views, but now that the workers have chosen their representatives we are going to work as a united entity," said the newly elected president Mr Nkiwane.
He said he was willing to work with every member of the union.
"We have voted and now it is time to push the workers' cause and to put their challenges at the centre of our agenda," said Mr Nkiwane.
He said it was resolved that there should be a youth structure within ZCTU.
"The youths have been sidelined and as such the delegates resolved that we should put a structure for the young workers," said Mr Nkiwane.
New secretary-general Mr Moyo said the result of the election marked the end of ZCTU's infighting.
"We are now looking forward to serving the people who voted us in office. The power struggles are history now and as a union we have gone past that," said Mr Moyo.
Delegates attended the just ended congress from various trade union federations from South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden, Australia and Canada and the so-called veterans of the ZCTU.
Initially about 235 voting delegates were expected at the congress from ZCTU affiliates.
The congress was held under the theme, "Respect our Rights, Save the Economy and our Jobs.
The outgoing president has however vowed not to relinquish his post.
Out of 165 voting delegates that attended the congress at the weekend in Bulawayo, 160 voted for Mr Nkiwane while only two voted for Mr Matombo. The other three were spoilt ballots.
This effectively means the 22 out of 33 affiliate unions have booted out Mr Matombo.
Mr Matombo has indicated that his faction will contest the results.
The other members of the new executive are Ms Sithokozile Siwela, (first vice-president), Mr Watipedza Chigwenda (second vice-president) and Mrs Lucia Matibenga (third vice president).
Mr Japhet Moyo is the new secretary-general taking over from Mr Wellington Chibebe who did not seek re-election as he is joining the Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation. Mr Gideon Shoko and Mr Dickson Tarusenga will deputise Mr Moyo.
The outgoing executive comprises of Mr Matombo who was president, his two deputies Ms Thabitha Khumalo and Blessing Muyira and Mr Chiebe as the secretary-general.
"The divisions are past us now, we know that in the build up to such events there is bound to be opposing views, but now that the workers have chosen their representatives we are going to work as a united entity," said the newly elected president Mr Nkiwane.
"We have voted and now it is time to push the workers' cause and to put their challenges at the centre of our agenda," said Mr Nkiwane.
He said it was resolved that there should be a youth structure within ZCTU.
"The youths have been sidelined and as such the delegates resolved that we should put a structure for the young workers," said Mr Nkiwane.
New secretary-general Mr Moyo said the result of the election marked the end of ZCTU's infighting.
"We are now looking forward to serving the people who voted us in office. The power struggles are history now and as a union we have gone past that," said Mr Moyo.
Delegates attended the just ended congress from various trade union federations from South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden, Australia and Canada and the so-called veterans of the ZCTU.
Initially about 235 voting delegates were expected at the congress from ZCTU affiliates.
The congress was held under the theme, "Respect our Rights, Save the Economy and our Jobs.
Source - Chronicle
