News / National
Zanu-PF finger prints on ZCTU factionalism: ZCTU
29 Aug 2011 at 05:53hrs | Views
The newly elected Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has said that Zanu-PF is behind the worsening factionalism in the union grouping, SW Radio has reported.
The ZCTU has been on the verge of splitting for several weeks, with at least seven disgruntled union affiliates now insisting that the new leadership, elected at a weekend congress, is not legitimate.
That group, and five non-affiliated unions, has this week said it will have its own congress by the end of year, adding that it still recognises Lovemore Matombo as ZCTU President.
The faction, led by the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), tried to have the weekend's Bulawayo congress stopped last week, but their court application to that end was dismissed. The union then boycotted the meeting, with threats from PTUZ Secretary General Raymond Majongwe that they would "expel themselves" if they attended.
The congress ended on Saturday night with the election of George Nkiwane as the new leader of the ZCTU. Japhet Moyo now takes over from Wellington Chibebe as the new ZCTU Secretary General, with Chibebe heading for Brussels after he was appointed deputy General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Moyo told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that they will not stop the Matombo faction from holding another congress, but he insisted "it will not be a ZCTU congress. We are past this stage, and we are continuing with more important matters."
Moyo added that there is a "sad force behind this quarrel," which he explained the ZCTU has been fighting for a decade.
"There are characters in this grouping that have tried to destabilise the ZCTU in the past. We are certain that these comrades are being handled by Zanu-PF, to destablise the ZCTU from within," Moyo said.
He added: "This is not about workers grievances. This is about politics."
SW Radio Africa was unable to reach the PTUZ's Majongwe, who has been commenting on the ZCTU fight. But he denied in a recent interview that he was linked in any way to ZANU PF. He said the allegations were being made by people "who had an agenda against him."
The ZCTU has been on the verge of splitting for several weeks, with at least seven disgruntled union affiliates now insisting that the new leadership, elected at a weekend congress, is not legitimate.
That group, and five non-affiliated unions, has this week said it will have its own congress by the end of year, adding that it still recognises Lovemore Matombo as ZCTU President.
The faction, led by the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), tried to have the weekend's Bulawayo congress stopped last week, but their court application to that end was dismissed. The union then boycotted the meeting, with threats from PTUZ Secretary General Raymond Majongwe that they would "expel themselves" if they attended.
The congress ended on Saturday night with the election of George Nkiwane as the new leader of the ZCTU. Japhet Moyo now takes over from Wellington Chibebe as the new ZCTU Secretary General, with Chibebe heading for Brussels after he was appointed deputy General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Moyo told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that they will not stop the Matombo faction from holding another congress, but he insisted "it will not be a ZCTU congress. We are past this stage, and we are continuing with more important matters."
Moyo added that there is a "sad force behind this quarrel," which he explained the ZCTU has been fighting for a decade.
"There are characters in this grouping that have tried to destabilise the ZCTU in the past. We are certain that these comrades are being handled by Zanu-PF, to destablise the ZCTU from within," Moyo said.
He added: "This is not about workers grievances. This is about politics."
SW Radio Africa was unable to reach the PTUZ's Majongwe, who has been commenting on the ZCTU fight. But he denied in a recent interview that he was linked in any way to ZANU PF. He said the allegations were being made by people "who had an agenda against him."
Source - SW Radio Africa
