Judge urges ZCTU to unite to serve the interest of workers

High Court judge Ben Hlatshwayo has recommended that the 2 ZCTU factions fighting for the control of the organisation unite to serve the interests of the workers.

Hlatshwayo offered his legal opinion in chambers yesterday afternoon during the hearing of an urgent chamber application by the faction led by George Nkiwane seeking to bar immediate past president Lovemore Matombo's faction from holding an elective congress and using ZCTU's name and properties.

Last week, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions General Council meeting of 15 November 2011 at Management Training Bureau in Msasa, Harare unanimously resolved to terminate membership of eight affiliates following the affiliates' continued vilification of the ZCTU.

The eight trade unions are Zimbabwe Energy Workers' Union, Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe, Civil Service Employees Association, Communications and Allied Services Workers' Union of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Leather, Shoe & Allied Workers' Union, Zimbabwe Graphical Workers' Union, Zimbabwe Rural District Council Workers' Union and National Airways Workers' Union.

ZCTU General Council says the decision taken arises from the continued conduct of these affiliates, which conduct has brought the name of ZCTU into disrepute. It claims that the affiliates have continued to fraudulently use the letterhead and logo of the national labour centre, attempted to set-up parallel regional and women's structures.

The expulsion is immediate and is in terms of the ZCTU Constitution section 8.1.3.

A statement issued by ZCTU says, "Though this was a pain stacking unanimous decision it has been necessary in order to protect the name and reputation of ZCTU. The ZCTU took long in coming up with this decision in the hope that the individuals would come to their senses but recent threats to invade ZCTU offices by these misguided individuals led the General Council to resolve to terminate their membership. It is an unfortunate development but such bold steps had to be taken so that the workers' struggle is not derailed by selfish people who have their own agendas."

In June this year, 2011, Raymond Majongwe who is the Secretary General of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) was quoted as saying "the current leaders running the ZCTU have over stayed and are running out of ideas on how to administer the labour movement."

Acting ZCTU Secretary General Japhet Moyo later issued a statement saying Majongwe's claims "are tantamount to cheap campaign posturing. Majongwe being a ZCTU General Council member is fully aware that the ZCTU has held its congresses after every five years according to the dictates of the organisation's constitution. It is therefore deliberate misrepresentation on Majongwe's part to say that the current leadership has overstayed."

Mr Lovemore Matombo was booted out of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions after delegates at their congress voted in Mr George Nkiwane as the new president.

However, Matombo vowed not to relinquish his post.