Chinotimba bounces back

The Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) secretary-general Kennias Shamuyarira Thursday retained his post at an elective conference that also saw the return of Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba as the union's vice-president.

Shamuyarira was unopposed at the elections that were held in Mashonaland East Province during the union's third conference.

The union's president Alfred Makwarimba also retained his position and will lead the labour movement until the next conference.

Chinotimba was fired from the union in 2008 for his 'unorthodox' labour practices when conducting ZFTU business while in 2006 he was suspended on allegations of insubordination. But yesterday, the comic politician was given a hero's welcome by scores of trade unionists from different provinces who had converged for the conference.

Addressing delagates at the conference, Shamuyarira said the elections were free and fair and that the union's membership was growing. He, however, bemoaned how the union, that is aligned to Zanu-PF has been downtrodden by the Ministry of Labour and  the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

"The elections were free and fair and I am happy they were held in peace. Today we boast of 298 000 members and 31 affiliates nationwide, which means we are growing. However, the ZFTU affiliates have suffered innumerable obstacles including being denied the right to represent their members in employment councils thereby undermining the trust of members.

"The parent ministry has not been forth coming by pursuing a policy and practice of dealing with ZFTU as if we are subordinate to the ZCTU. The ILO has also not been most enthusiastic, either as it appears to operate under directives from the same parent ministry," said Shamuyarira.

Present at the conference was Foreign Affairs deputy minister Christopher Mutsvangwa, newly elected central committee member Paul Mangwana and officials from the ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.