Confusion hits ZCTU

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has split with a camp aligned to Mr Lovemore Matombo announcing that it will hold its own congress before the end of this year.

The announcement was made by Mr Raymond Majongwe, a spokesperson of the Matombo camp in Harare yesterday.

The other faction held its congress in Bulawayo at the weekend where it elected a new leadership with Mr George Nkiwane becoming the president.

Mr Nkiwane is a former president of the Zimbabwe Electricity Workers Union, having worked in Zesa' accounts department in Gweru.

Mr Majongwe's announcement came as four more disgruntled ZCTU affiliates joined the Matombo-led camp. The camp now has 12 out of the 33 ZCTU affiliates.

However, Mr Majongwe would not state when and where the congress would be held.

"A proper ZCTU congress is going to be held this year by bona fide ZCTU members and in proper compliance with the ZCTU constitution. Such a conference, however, will commence with the process of meticulous verification of union members by each ZCTU affiliate," Mr Majongwe said.

"The purported and alleged congress held in Bulawayo by the other members of the ZCTU was done in direct contravention of the ZCTU constitution and therefore whatever resolutions, changes and outcomes made at the congress were a nullity and void ab initio.

"We still recognise the ZCTU president as Lovemore Matombo and Japhet Moyo as the current acting secretary general and that no structures whatsoever have been changed," Mr Majongwe said.

He urged workers at the ZCTU "not to interfere with our politics" and encouraged them to continue doing their work in compliance with their employment contracts.

"As the true custodians of the ZCTU constitution and true representatives of the workers we are proceeding with our challenge against the alleged congress in court," he said.

He extended "an olive branch" to ZCTU members who attended the Bulawayo congress.

"Those who attended the Bulawayo congress should come back to their senses. The ZCTU is still intact under the leadership of Lovemore Matombo.

"The door is open for them," Mr Majongwe said.

Last week the High Court ruled as not urgent an application by the Matombo camp seeking an order stopping the Bulawayo congress.

Mr Matombo was booted out of the ZCTU leadership at the Bulawayo congress that saw Mr Nkiwane taking over the reigns.

Other members of the new executive are Ms Sithokozile Siwela, (first vice-president), Mr Watipedza Chigwenda (second vice-president) and Ms Lucia Matibenga (third vice-president).

Mr Moyo is the new ZCTU secretary general, taking over from Wellington Chibebe, who did not seek reelection as he is leaving to join the International Trade Union Confederation.

Meanwhile, the new secretary general said the Matombo camp was free to form another workers' union if it was their wish.

"They can proceed and form another workers' federation if they wish so. The legislation allows people to do so. The only issue would be a fight over the name ZCTU," he said.

Mr Moyo claimed unions in the Matombo camp were not affiliated to the ZCTU.

"Mr Majongwe is lying to the nation to booster his support. He has no following. All those people are not affiliated to the ZCTU," he said.