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Voice of the Labour Movement Established 1988 Issue No: 223 APRI L , 2015 Regist ered at the GP O as a News p a per ZIBAWU A life petitions Dembare government and house among over bank built of Africa’s closures bananas finest Page 3 PAGE 3 PAGE 10 PAGE 16 ZCTU threatens to report ambush dismissals to ILO Battle lines

BY STAFF REPORTER he Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is threatening to report the country to the TInternational Labour Organisation (ILO) over the unilateral amendment of laws by the courts which has resulted in workers being dismissed without priors notice. In a statement the ZCTU said it is concerned by the current trend of abrupt termination of contracts of employment by employers despite the fact that it is well established in the drawn Labour Act that termination is a process to be agreed by concerned parties. Demonstrations to go “Just recently the country witnessed an ambush style termination of employment when Meikles Stores showed the ahead despite spirited exit door to 153 workers without any prior engagement. demonisation from “Labour is opposed to this cold-hearted termination whereby workers report for duty only to be sent back with a state media spooks letter of termination. It is naturally unfair by any standard to deny a worker prior notice of intention of termination for planning purposes. The trend is in violation of the BY STAFF REPORTER International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 158 - ll is set for the Zimbabwe Termination of Employment Convention, 1982 (No. 158). Congress of Trade Unions The courts and the employers should be guided and persuaded Aplanned demonstrations by the provisions of the convention which, among other scheduled for April 11, 2015, with the things, outlaws the ambushing of employees on termination,” labour body's Secretary General, Japhet said Japhet Moyo the ZCTU secretary general. Moyo, vowing that no amount of state He said the ZCTU will not stand aside and look while the interference will stop workers from future of workers and their social stability are being thrown expressing themselves. into the dustbin. The dismissals of Meikles and Zuva Moyo said the demonstrations will seek to Petroleum employees have been appealed against at the express workers' anger over reckless Constitutional Court. utterances by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe A termination letter addressed to one of the employees, Governor, John Mangundya, Zimbabwe Edwin Marimbuire based in Mutare from the Meikles Revenue Authority boss, Gershom Pasi and Industry and Commerce Minister, Mike Managing Director P. Ellse reads: “This letter serves as notice Bimha suggesting that workers' salaries and of your contract of employment, in terms of section 12(4) of wages should be frozen at current levels, the Labour Act (Chapter 28:01) either party is entitled to give which are way below the Poverty Datum three months' notice of termination of the contract of Line, among others. employment. Accordingly, your contract will be terminated The workers, Moyo said, were also not with effect from Friday 20 March 2015. happy with the remarks by Finance Minister, “You will be paid three months' salary in lieu of notice Patrick Chinamasa on Labour Market period in the sum of US$ 1002 in addition to the tree months' Flexibility and the unilateral amendment of salary the organization will pay a sum of US$551 in Labour laws by the government. appreciation of the services that you rendered to the The workers will present a petition to the ZCTU SECRETARY GENERAL - JAPHET MOYO organization. As of 31 March you will be paid US$103 as cash Ministry of Labour registering their lieu of leave.” grievances, which also include the demand Moyo said no amount of propaganda demonstrations, which will see them The workers said the exercise which affected managers to revive the Tripartite Negotiating Forum spewed by the state newspapers would marching from their respective regional and shop floor staff had been discussed in February with (TNF) and the remitting of union dues. deter the workers from the peaceful To page 2 Page 2 The Worker, APRIL, 2015 Gvt backtracks on salary freeze

reporting corruption at workplaces,” BY STAFF REPORTER claimed would help revive the country's melting economy. Moyo added. Mangudya publicly said there Nzuwa told parliament that HE government is in panic should be no wage increases in government would not reduce mode and reversing its government and urged the private salaries for civil servants as doing so earlier illegal threat to cut T sector take similar action until the is a violation of the country's or freeze salaries following economy improves. Constitution adding that his pressure from labour groups and a In a statement, ZCTU secretary commission had embarked on a wave of strikes that have hit the general Japhet Moyo said the labour massive head-count of all nation over the past month. body met Mangudya who claimed Government employees to weed out In the past few months finance that “he was not properly quoted and duplication of duties in ministries, minister Patrick Chinamasa, that he was only giving advice to the something he said had contributed to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe government”. a bloated salary bill gobbling 83 governor John Mangudya and “The ZCTU does not agree with percent of revenue. revenue boss Gershem Pasi this sentiment because no advice is "There is no plan to reduce the chorused salary cuts and freeze given publicly and his monetary 2015 salaries for civil servants for which have been met with resistance policy statement was aimed at the the simple reason that the from both the public and private whole nation and it, therefore, Constitution does not allow the sector workers. Pasi recently said reflects the government thinking,” reduction of salaries for civil government should consider Moyo said. servants once it has been awarded. reducing salaries by 20 percent “The meeting with the governor The Commission has no power to across the board to stimulate agreed that the issue of wage freeze reduce salaries except for an economic growth. be referred to the Tripartite individual over misconduct or an Recent Mangudya has Negotiation Forum (TNF) for individual who would have backtracked on his statement after deliberation as this is the rightful volunteered," said Nzuwa. Dr Mariyawanda Nzuwa - Civil Service Commission Chairperson meeting with the Zimbabwe forum for such issues. The Governor He admitted that the civil service Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) ward, while the Ministry of also agreed that in future, he will had a duplication of roles which loggerheads with the International while the Civil Service Commission Agriculture, Mechanisation and consult labour before making his could be addressed if there was Monetary Fund (IMF) which chairperson Mariyawanda Nzuwa Irrigation Development would monetary statement.,” said Moyo. political will. Nzuwa said demanded it weeds out "ghost has also weighed in against employ an extension officer, crop, Moyo said the ZCTU demanded government was paying agricultural workers" and free up money to build tempering with public employees' livestock and veterinary officer, all the implementation of the Kadoma extension workers stationed in infrastructure. salaries describing it as in a given ward. Declaration, audit of government metropolitan cities like Harare and IMF director for Africa unconstitutional. "Yes, we do have that duplication workers to remove ghost workers, other urban areas where there was no Antionette Sayeh last year said it The salary cut trial and error of duties that is why we are carrying conducting of a National Salary known agricultural activities was unsustainable for the started at the state broadcaster, the a head-count. We can solve that Survey to address wage and salary requiring their presence. government to spend up to 80 Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings problem provided that there is inequity as we believe the gap He also cited examples where the percent of the budget to pay its where employees' salaries were enough political will on our policy between management and workers Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender 250,000 employees. reduced to 2010 levels. The makers," he said. is too big. and Community Development had a "Nobody can disagree with employees have since taken the The government has been “The survey should be done in representative at ward level together getting rid of people whose names broadcaster to the contesting the accused of laxity in taking action government, parastatals and the with other Government ministries. are on the payroll and they are not legality of the move. thousands of party functionaries private sector. Enactment of a law The Ministry of Youth working. That's one easy thing that The ZCTU leadership confronted employed as youth officers at ward that protects whistle-blowers as Development, Indigenisation and the government should quickly do," Mangudya head-on over his push for level straining the state wage bill. workers have been victimized for Economic Empowerment had a Sayeh said. a freeze on pay hikes which he maximum of five youth officers in a The country has been at ZCTU threatens to report Masvingo council troubled with Battle lines drawn ambush dismissals to ILO From page 1 from Page 1 US$ 3million salary arrears offices to the Ministry of Labour Offices. management advising that there was going to be “The ZCTU is not surprised by the relentless attack in the Herald retrenchment which was to be called a 'mutual over its planned demonstrations and would like to categorically BY ALOIS VINGA separation' exercise.” inform the workers of Zimbabwe that the planned action will go he Masvingo City Council has applied to the Supreme Court seeking the ahead on 11 April 2015. The demonisation of the ZCTU whenever Management was to discuss with each worker separately and get our views with the regards to the reversal of a Labour Court Judgment which ordered the council to pay it embarks on national actions has been part of the Herald diary over $3 million owed to employees. exercise but it later ambushed them in some cases T over the past two years,” he said. The council and its employees have been involved in a wrangle from since Moyo said the Herald was violating workers' constitutional with police escort to deliver their termination February 2010 after Arbitrator Honourable Sithole made an award through the rights to demonstrate freely as enshrined in Sections 58 and 59 of details. collective bargaining agreement which was in favour Masvingo Council employees' the Constitution which provided for freedom of assembly and “The person just came with police and conveyed resulting in awarding a salary increment backdated to September 2008.The award association and the right demonstrate and petition peacefully. the message. He did not talk about our benefits. was valued in United States dollars and was across the board from the least grade of “This is the route that the ZCTU has decided to take and the The mutual separation exercise the company cleaners to the town clerk. Herald and its spooks have no right to determine otherwise,” he promised was not even conducted so that we agree After the passing of the award the parties involved, employer and employees' were said. and sign on our packages,” said Marimbire. then given up to 15 February 2011 to agree on the mode of payment of the accrued Moyo said the demonstrations by the ZCTU had nothing to do He said the workers would continue to report for arrears. However in January 2011 the Masvingo Council appealed against the ruling with those being organised by the MDC and other political parties. duty until the management comes clean on their to the Gweru Labour Court. On the day of trial the Council representatives did not “The ZCTU demonstration is purely a labour matter and the packages. attend the court session which resulted in the court passing a default judgement in MDC-T has nothing to do with it and allegations that there is a tug “They should come and face us not to just chase favour of the employees'. In August of the same year they filed another application for rescission of the of war between the two is absolute nonsense and meant to create a us away. We will continue to report for duty. This is default judgment but the court dismissed the application on the basis that the Heads fallacy that the MDC-T is part of the demo,” he said. a non-event,” he said. of argument submitted were suspicious because they were fabricated and not at He said the ZCTU was a different entity from political The ZCTU said such anti-worker practices points at of law. opposition parties in the country, adding that the issues that the should be resisted if they are to be curtailed. The Council thereafter did not comply the court ruling which directed it to pay the labour body was bringing to the attention of the government and “The practice should be opposed with all might salary arrears owed to its employees. This prompted Zimbabwe Urban Councils' employers were different from what the political parties were as it is unfair and in violation of Section 65 of the Workers' Union which is representing the employees' to apply for registration of the raising with the authorities. Constitution. The ZCTU will take the issue to the award in 2012 under HC Case 4011/11. “It might be a coincident that that whilst we are talking about a ILO to protect workers from this unfair However the council opposed the registration but the court could not accept the national demonstration, we also hear in the public domain that the termination under the guise of the law. It seems the opposing papers because the Heads Of Argument were not properly written. opposition parties re also planning a similar activity. It is our hope courts, manned by capitalists, in cahoots with the In the same year High Court Judge Honourable Mathonsi granted the application that the police will look at the issues, that the people will look at the employers, have connived to unilaterally amend for registration of the award resulting in the attachment of Masvingo Council issues and the authorities will look at the issues which we are the labour laws of the country and introduce Property. The property is still under attachment . raising . So these are two different activities. We are not even privy Since then the matter has been referred to and from the Supreme and Labour Labour Market Flexibility through the back door,” courts. to how and when the opposition political parties will be engaging he said. in their own convergence demonstrations' he said. The recent Judgement by Labour Court judge Honorable Makamure recorded He said if left unchecked, thousands of workers Meanwhile, the ILO has distanced itself from claims by The under LC/MS/07/2015 dismissed the appeal on grounds that the factors raised were will find themselves in the streets. The ZCTU is Herald that the organisation was funding the demonstrations, not at points of law because they did not hold water to challenge a collective which the newspaper falsely claimed were being planned in also very concerned about the ripple effects of bargaining agreement.Some of the points raised read ,the arbitrator erred by cooperation with the MDC-T. these ambush terminations as they place workers awarding an increment since it is not council's policy to have an across the board The ILO Country Office for Zimbabwe Communications in a precarious position where they become risk salary increment, arbitrator erred by not taking into consideration the call by Officer, Maria Mutandwa, said claims were baseless and untrue. candidates when trying to access loans and government not award any increments as they are not sustainable in our economy and if the increments are effected they will gobble over ninety- two percent of She said the ILO was a tripartite organisation which worked mortgages, thereby dwindling their social security council's revenue. with the ZCTU, the government through the Ministry of Labour protection. It is in this disregard that even and the Employers' Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) and prospective investors would hesitate to invest in a was never at one time involved in the financing of demonstrations country without a guaranteed regular clientele. by workers or anyone else. The ZCTU is planning to hold national demonstrations over such issues this month. 2015 APRIL, The Worker Page 3 ZIBAWU petitions government over bank closures

policies, ineffective regulatory and challenges. supervisory frameworks, poor Zibawu is demanding that corporate governance, high levels parliament reforms the Banking of non-performing loans and Act and audit laws on economic concentrated ownership. crimes and corporate fraud with a He said said other problems view to enact laws that prescribe bedevilling the financial sector deterrent sanctions and penalties. It were poor risk management, the is also seeking a thorough probe to liquidity crunch, high operating the root causes of bank failures in expenses and regulatory arbitrage- Zimbabwe, publicise the findings through the use of holding and prescribe measures of bringing companies. to book those responsible, "We are therefore naturally including tracing and recovering saddened by the latest turbulences depositors' funds. in the financial sector which have "This is eroding consumer led to bank closures and subsequent confidence in the financial system, loss of over 1 000 jobs," Mutasa posing sector viability challenges said. as well as further excluding the The union blamed the RBZ for marginalised from using formal failing to follow provisions of the banking channels. This has a Banking Act when it comes to devastating effect on the economy monitoring, inspection and as a whole," said Mutasa. investigation of banks as well as Given the number of indigenous investigating allegations of bank failures owing to improper relationships between its shareholders' abuse of depositors' senior officials and the failed banks funds, analysts also feel there is a as well as reform its licensing legislation gap that needs to be ZIBAWU members joined by other union member in picketing againt Barclays bank surveillance and supervisory filled in order to bring sanity to the framework and systems. financial services sector. BY STAFF REPORTER of Zimbabwe (RBZ) over the hand over the petition on Thursday crisis caused by unabated bank 5 March but was slapped with a last Capital, Allied and AfrAsia The union has been piling up banks closed this year amid pressure on all banks for he bank workers union, closures which have drowned minute decree. accusations the central bank lacked compliance with labour relations which was last month over 1000 jobs since 2011. ZIBAWU general secretary the tenacity to nip the problems and has picketed on several banks barred from The Zimbabwe Banks and Peter Mutasa said bank closures T have become a national crisis they faced in the bud. A number of over the past year. demonstrating in the streets by Allied Workers Union (ZIBAWU) banks have closed down since 2000 the police has petitioned had planned a street march to requiring urgent attention. He due to liquidity problems, parliament and the Reserve Bank parliament and the Reserve Bank to blamed the collapse of most financial institutions on weak mismanagement and economic Mining company saved from dissolution Unions ignore salary opposition to the grant order which BY MUSA MAKINA will have the effect of causing it to suffer an immediate diminishing HE High Court has impersonal status and removal of discharged Gweru based control over all its assets. gold and antimony mining T “The manifestly serious freeze calls, negotiate company, Aquarium Trading from consequences flow for the issue of a provisional liquidation in the provisional winding up order. The process redeeming it from National Employment Council which has issues carried over provisional liquidator is almost dissolution. from 2014. invariably vested by the court with The company was placed under The union's deputy general secretary Fozert Mugabe wide powers. The present respondent provisional liquidation in September said the union was not moved by calls for salary cuts and being a victim of an inexcusable 2014 by judge justice Martin wage freeze. breach of procedure, the High Court, “Those are mere utterances from individuals without a Makonese, after the mining company ought to have afforded it the mandate to dabble in industrial collective bargaining had failed to settle a debt of about $2, 5 opportunity to oppose the application processes. We will not be moved or deterred from million. for the provisional order by the only representing the membership by such reckless calls. The The application for provisional means available, namely, by setting union has submitted its position paper taking into liquidation was brought to the aside of the order that had been consideration issues carried over from the 2014 collective Bulawayo High Court by its major improperly obtained,” said Justice bargaining process and there is nothing that can stop us from shareholder TAMIRA, a company Takuva. proceeding,” she said. incorporated in Belize a country in the Furthermore Justice Takuva took She said ZCATWU was aiming for the least paid worker eastern cost of Central America. issue with the fact that Tamira's legal to get wages at par with the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) and However, when the matter came for practitioners failed to make it to court were ready take to the employers head on. confirmation of the liquidation order and sent a correspondent legal “Our aim is for every worker to get PDL linked wages. it was heard by a different judge, practitioner who was not versed with We have unfinished issues from last year's negotiations Justice Maxwell Takuva who ruled the facts of which we agreed to consider this year. Back-pays for July, that there are no good and sufficient August and September 2014 were not paid and the the matter. reasons for the court to grant a agreement was that they would be factored in this year. The “There is no proof of service of the winding up order. increment period is from July of every year but following the application for a provisional order in In a judgment delivered by Justice protracted negotiations last year employers said they could the record, consequently, the only Maxwell Takuva, he further FOZERT MUGABE not afford to pay the back pay citing financial limitations.” inference is that it was granted on ex discharged the former provisional “Employers have made their position very clear through party basis,” said Justice Takuva. liquidator Knowledge Hofisi of BY STAFF REPORTER the Employers' Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) that “This is irregular and I will Aurifin Capital from controlling the they are supporting the calls for a blanket wage freeze across discharge the provisional order for mining entity and directed the master nions have ignored calls for salary freeze and all sectors. We are however mindful of the fact that this is an this reason. Had Aquarium not prayed of the High Court to appoint a wage cuts by Finance minister Patrick insincere call meant to stifle collective bargaining and for an order that the respondent be provisional judicial manager within UChinamasa and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe introduce labour flexibility across all sectors. Unions have placed under judicial management the 10 days. governor John Mangudya instead going ahead with the resolved to fight this policy and defying the calls for wage matter would have ended here,” Justice Takuva said the provisional 2015 collective bargaining process. freezes is the starting point,” she said. In summation Justice Takuva said, liquidation has been erroneously Some unions have since commenced negotiations while Local authority workers under the Zimbabwe Urban it was not disputed that Aquarium had granted before that application for the others are still drafting their position papers for onward Council Workers Union are engaging their employers. The enormous mineral deposits and that submission to their respective national employment food, energy and manufacturing sectors are also in the provisional order was served on investors were on hand to chip in and councils. precess of negotiations as well. Collective bargaining has Aquarium on its registered address in put funds for the continued operations The Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Trades Workers been negatively affected by employers who have not been breach of section 5 (2) of the of Aquarium. Union (ZCATWU) has said it was not moved by the negotiating in good faith since the inception of the multi- Companies winding up rules 1972 . ''In my view, one way of protecting unsubstantiated calls vowing to press on with the 2015 currency regime in 2009. Most sectors have ended up He added that a company facing the interests of all parties is to allow collective bargaining process. referring the matters for arbitration after reaching liquidation must not be deprived of the Aquarium to continue operating The union has already submitted its position paper to the deadlocks. opportunity to put forward its under judicial management,'' he Page 4 The Worker, APRIL 2015 The

Voice of the Labour Movement Comment Time to act, be counted on April 11 or a long time now, workers have been quiet as their rights continue to be trodden upon by a government which Fbelieves it has all the answers to their problems. In fact, the quietness of workers has been taken as a sign of weakness by the powers that be. It is a fact that since the government of national unity, workers of Zimbabwe have been patient with the government over its glaring anti-worker policies. The workers, we believe, were giving the government a benefit of doubt and a chance to right its wrongs, but recent developments have shown that if workers do not act, things are going to be far much worse. We have seen in recent times government officials taking it upon themselves to try to change the laws of the country at the detriment of workers. To set the ball rolling, the Minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa started by calling on the government to amend the Labour Act to introduce labour market flexibility. He claimed that labour laws in this country favour employees at the expense of employers. His suggestions would entail that employers do as they please at the workplace, including firing and hiring of workers. Such arbitrary decision by the Minister is against the tenets of social dialogue and smacks of returning this country to the slavery era. Reflections on independence day From there we heard remarks from the Governor of the Reserve 18 April, every year, is a great day shutting down due to the economic Bank of Zimbabwe, John Mangudya, calling on the government and as we remember to celebrate are still seriously affected by crisis. independence in Zimbabwe but it economic challenges as teachers industry to freeze wages and salaries, which he claimed were too The former celebrated remains so unfortunate that and lecturers sometimes high and unsustainable. The ZCTU rightfully pointed out to the breadbasket of Africa is now a cursed disillusionment and demonstrate against low and late governor that these are matters for social partners to negotiate at basket case pathetically dependent disgruntlement has darkened this remuneration. Recently we read the table, not for the governor. on cheap imports and humanitarian day as Zanu PF wildly continues about demonstrations at our biggest aid. The broke Zanu PF government As if this was not enough, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority boss, leading the nation backwards university, the University of can no longer support farmers. A few Gershem Pasi, went on calling for wage and salary cuts, something when time and circumstances Zimbabwe as students rose for basic hard working farmers lucky to be still that is against the labour laws of this country. demand progressive governance. provisions and in solidarity with producing considerably enough to It is so boring to keep writing, lecturers whose salaries are not well Not to be outdone, the Minister of Industry and Commerce Mike sell can no longer give our almost talking and hearing of an unchanging paid. Bimha claimed that the demand by workers for an increase in defunct Grain Marketing Board story. We are sick and tired of our Where is independence in our salaries and wages was scuttling investment opportunities in the which does not pay. The Zanu PF degrading political and economic situation today? We have lost country. government has failed to utilize land situation. We are sick and tired of relatives and friends in roads and which our bloody leaders claim to be It looks like workers are now to blame for the economic malaise being sick and tired. We should be hospitals while MPs voice for the greatest fruit of independence. the country is facing. writing and talking of an improving personal benefits, the president Three quarters of Zanu PF officials Coupled with these, it also appeared that employers and Zimbabwean story today, but behold; keeps travelling with unreasonably seized multiple farms during and our situation has not changed yet. big delegations to foreign government are now working in cohorts by refusing to remit trade after the chaotic fast track land Zimbabwe is still under the same occasions. President Mugabe's union dues as well as non and late payment of wages and salaries. reform program and failed to make old rough faces, with same government has failed roads and All these issues put the existence of workers and trade unions productive use thereof. Can ideologies and strategies which hospitals so much that he personally under threat. It is under these circumstances that the ZCTU is calling Zimbabweans discern the true cannot change our economy and hates using them. He usually travels meaning of independence in our upon all workers to peaceably demonstrate on 11 April 2015. politics. President Mugabe is still in on air and attends hospital outside situation today? It is time for workers in this country to say enough is enough. power. Recently Zanu PF got more the country. Are we really Our hemorrhaging economic Politicians must be made to account for their actions and promises. powerful as twenty-one so-called independent? challenges which are worsening There will be a lot of intimidation and propaganda as the day get 'rebellious' opposition MPs were We are forced by situations to deadly suffering, breaking families closer. But like previous actions, this is expected from a paranoid recalled from parliament. think about lack of adequate basic needs like water and electricity. At government. The Zanu PF has not changed. Our battered The thirty-five, we are still stressed economy keeps bleeding. with lack of water and electricity! Dissenting voices face hellish The ninety one years old president encounters with state security who led us where we are still fools agents on daily basis. One most us with pledges to make up our recent disturbing case is that of lives. Concerned Zimbabweans journalist-cum-democracy PERSPECTIVE have many unanswered questions activist Itai Dzamara who was on independence. Have we done abducted for merely speaking WITH justice to those who sacrificed out against tyranny. their lives to free this country from The Zimbabwean story has KIMION TAGWIREI White colonial rule? Has the Zanu The taken an unbearably painful PF government honestly pursued time and levels. The year 2015 dreams of our heroes? These, and Independence Day comes in such a many related questions may not be and impoverishing the nation have trying time when we are all highly answered on 18 April. We are highly dampened the spirit of The Worker is published by the worried of an uncertain future. We likely to be told of how sanctions independence. Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions normally expect true independence and fired Mujuru and company were It is very important for us to 9th Floor, Chester House, 88 Speke Ave to bring us a friendly government of fighting the revolutionary party celebrate independence and the people, by the people and for the from within. That will not solve our P.O Box 3549, Harare commemorate sacrifices that our people. Contrary to that, we have a issues. That will not give us the TEL/FAX 04-702474/705602 national heroes made to liberate our harsh government of Zanu PF, by original meaning of independence. www.theworker.co.zw country from White colonial rule. Zanu PF and for Zanu PF. The We are at a time that needs a hard www.theworkerzimbabwe.com Most Zimbabweans understand this, government of this day has proved to working leadership that focuses on I believe. That government's be against the interests of the people. nation building. The president and EDITOR avoidable failures have led citizens Zanu PF is primarily geared up on his team must be thinking of how to LAST TARABUKU to live in disastrous struggles, each conquering, keeping power and self restore our economy. We have [email protected] passing day has darkened the light of enrichment. degreed people now reduced to independence. No one can celebrate What can ordinary Zimbabweans vendors and flea market struggling REPORTERS independence in black, lack, fear, really celebrate on Independence traders as a result of company ADMORE MARAMBANYIKA helplessness and hopelessness. Day this year? The majority of closures and retrenchments. [email protected] Ordinary citizens can no longer Zimbabweans are currently Unfortunately anyone who afford basic education in Zimbabwe. CORRESPONDENT languishing in tragic poverty as speaks out about these biting issues We have literally lost the right to DICKSON CHAERUKA unemployment rate has risen above becomes an enemy of the state. education. Few Zimbabweans who 80 percent. Countless companies Independence today somewhat are fortunate to attend schools today have closed and many more are to page 14 2015 APRIL THE WORKER PAGE 5 Karina auction bid flops that way fetches more money which BY DICKSON CHAERUKA would go a long way in paying up arina Textiles (Pvt) Ltd creditors. The situation now is an first auction to dispose of indication that it is no longer safe for Kits Mutare Complex hit a some creditors that they may not get brick wall after failing to attract a anything. We still hope the company potential bidder with the required will find a potential bidder,'' said a amount, The Worker has learnt. former managerial employee with Karina was officially placed the firm who preferred anonymity. under liquidation in 2013 and has One of the company's major been on offer since then but has creditors is Kingdom Bank (Pvt) Ltd struggled to secure investors. which is owed a total of US$800 Theresa Grimmel, the 000. provisional liquidator, seeks to It has been reported that the dispose the company for $3 million Liquidator was planning to set to settle creditors' arrears but the another auction date failure to which recent auction only attracted three she intends to auction the plant's bidders with the highest offering $1, assets in pieces. 4 million. Karina properties consist of the In a statement, the liquidator said complex, with a large piece of land some of the company's movable (partially undeveloped) together assets in Harare and Mutare were with the developed area which already auctioned. houses buildings for the yarn- ''The assets were on offer spinning and carpet-making continuously from the time of final business. Production time at Karina before the company’s fortunes dwindled Karina was initially liquidated on liquidation; they were advertised company continued failing to attract favourable for workers since they of the massive industrial collapse June 13, 2012 but the final order was locally, regionally and an investor with the anticipated are not categorised as preferred experienced in the eastern border granted on November 28, 2013 as internationally. The movable assets amount. creditors in the process. That's now city in the past decade, following the there was opposition to the such as motor vehicles and office ''The development that no our fear that if it so happens that the closure of Mutare Board and Paper liquidation from the Zimbabwe furniture from Harare have been suitable bidder is coming forth to liquidator disposes the factory in Mills (MBPM) - with both Textile Workers Union (ZTWU) sold by public auction, as have the purchase the company is now pieces, the amount realised may not companies recorded to have thrown over the preferred judicial manager. motor vehicles from Mutare which treacherous for workers. This is be enough to cover all creditors with more than 5000 workers into the ZTWU General Secretary, Silas were sold by private treaty,'' said because workers are listed to be paid workers included,'' he said. streets. The company, which is the Kuveya said Karina's 666 workers Grimmel. once the Complex in Mutare is The liquidator was yet to confirm country's sole manufacturer of listed as creditors are owed US$588 ''This development is saddening. disposed of. We still press our hope a new date for the second auction by knitting yarn, was one of Mutare's 888, 47. We had preferred the factory to be that the company would find a the time of going to print. top employers with over 1 000 He expressed fear that the auctioned to an individual as one potential buyer as a single entity. In Meanwhile, Karina Textiles' workers at its peak. workers might be prejudiced if the entity since in normal circumstances liquidation, proceedings are not demise is one of the major indicators Sakunda Energy closes station RAYOS special congress snubs coup plotters

after fuel tank leakage meeting on the second day when the four union should always come up with amicable BY JEFFRIE T. CHAMUNORWA delegates moved a motion for an interim solutions to whatever challenge they came BY DICKSON CHAERUKA BULAWAYO - A palace coup to unseat the executive that would be tasked to steer the across. UTARE - Sakunda Energy (Pvt) Ltd has been current RAYOS national executive suffered union foward. The idea was shot down The RAYOS national executive's term of prompting the four from Harare and office expired in January but the union had forced to close shop at its One Stop Civic Centre a false start at the union's just ended special congress after only four of the 44 delegates Lochivar branches to walkout in protest. The not been able to convene a congress over a MStation following an underground petrol leakage union has 10 branches. A scuffle ensued as number of issues which were communicated of over 10 000 litres. pushed the motion. The tension filled special congress saw the other delegates moved to eject them to the membership, ministry of labour and The petrol station which is leased to the country's Central labelling them opportunists bent on derailing the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. Intelligent Organisation (CIO) Director Happyton Bonyongwe four deserting the congress venue prematurely after failing to convince other delegates to buy progress because their terms of office as The RAYOS President George sent all its 35 employees at the service centre on indefinite unpaid branch executive members had expired as Chatambudza said the union had been leave following the incident. their idea to seize the opportunity and grab power and unilaterally institute an interim well. bedevilled by numerous problems but was The workers lamented that they were sent on forced leave executive against the wish of their branches. One congress delegate from Mutare said; on its way to recovery with the upcoming without receiving their February salaries. The Special Congress which was held amid “Some of us have come all the way from elective congress being the rejuvenating They said their management briefed them that the company mounting tension as the terms of office of Mutare to discuss the issues at hand and we point. had planned to cover salaries using proceeds from the leaked fuel executive members and branch executive should always think like reasonable “One of the reasons is that the union has and could not inform them when they intend to settle the wage members had lapsed resolved to hold the leaders.” been financially incapacitated as it was not bill. national elective congress in three month's “We cannot support an idea that is meant receiving its dues from the employer which The workers further expressed fears over their employment time. to further the interests of a few power hungry delayed all the other activities feeding into saying they were not sure of their job security after the incident. It also came up with a roadmap to the and misguided individuals bent on the congress. It is my will that we hold our ''Our employment relationship at this company has not been congress as well as examining and adopting destroying the smooth running of the union” second National congress but the employer healthy. Workers views are disregarded in major decisions a new constitutional provisions with new shouted one emotional delegate. is letting us down by not remitting our situation made worse by the non-existence of a workers guidelines for the congress. Some delegates at the congress felt that membership monthly subscriptions. It is my instituting an interim executive was against hope however that given the resolution that committee here. Some of us are afraid they may not be recalled by The proceedings of the first day went the will of the branches and was going to set was made on this Special Congress my team, management for work once the station resumes operations,' said smoothly with members showing signs of commitment and zeal to produce a good a negative precedence to the running of and I are going to ensure the holding of the an employee with the firm who pleaded to remain anonymous. union affairs. They were of the view that the National Congress at all costs,” he said. It was confirmed that the property owners, Sakunda Energy constitution for the union. Drama rocked the was making frantic efforts to repair the leaking tank. ''So far the team has excavated around the tank and are still scrutinising to establish whether the leakage was as a result of human error or that it was natural. We do look forward to reopen Labour Court orders ZUPCO to reinstate fired employee soon as there is some progress in correcting the incident. Yes the workers are on unpaid leave but we are yet to be informed by the BY ALOIS VINGA Resources Department must preferred dismissal while parties representing the both company's superiors at the Head Office on the way forward. I grant clearance before for one to TGWUZ representatives ruled parties reach a deadlock as is he labour court has address workers and speak to the out the charges as baseless. The required by the labour don't make decisions here,'' said the station's manager, Simon ordered the Zimbabwe Nyakazeya. press on issues concerning the parties then forwarded the issue regulations. TUnited Passenger company. to the Chief Executive Officer of In passing verdict Judge It has been revealed that one of the station's underground tank Company to reinstate, without This development led the ZUPCO as stipulated by Mhuri noted that the dismissal with a 46 000 Litres storage capacity was leaking fuel and this any loss of benefits, one of its company to convene a hearing statutory instrument 67 of labour was unlawful since it is part of his was established on the 26th of February when the company lost workers who had been fired where Mashinga was charged for regulations which directs that duties to represent employees and 12 000 Litres of fuel unlawfully. breaching Statutory Instrument deadlocked matters have to be address them if there is ''We discovered it on the day when the company had bought 17 The employee Onson 67 of 2012 annexure 12 section referred to the company's Chief need.Mhuri further highlighted 000 Litres of fuel and some moments after pumping the fuel into Mashinga, who is also the 3(3.1) which prohibits the Executive Officer for that the internal company policies the tank, we were surprised to record only 5 000. That is when it Worker's Committee and National violation of standing orders. determination. could not override the law. was discovered that the tank had leaked 12 000 Litres of the fuel,'' Works Council Chairperson, was Mashinga was represented by The ZUPCO CEO then ruled The judgment recorded under said one of the station's staffers. accused of addressing fellow two officials from the Transport in favour of dismissal .This LC/H/237/15 read; 'The appeal is The fuel lost through the leakage on the day was valued to be workers and speaking to The and General Workers Union verdict prompted TGWUZ to with merit and is hereby allowed. $23 630. Zimbabwe Independent about a while the company was appeal to the labour court arguing The appellant is to be reinstated It was reported that the company was fined a total of $5000 by lawsuit which the employees had represented by two officials from that the dismissal was illegal to his position without loss of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and it was filed through Winter tons Legal its human resources department. because the matter had not been salary and benefits as from 15 ordered to stop operations until after maintaining the tank. Practitioners. These actions were Notably the parties presiding referred to the National September 2014 when he was in contradiction with the over the hearing did not reach a Employment Council for the dismissed.'' company's internal policies which consensus because the Transport Operators Industry for stipulate that the Human employer's representatives determination in the event that Page 6 The Worker, APRIL 2015 New broom at FFAWUZ UNION NEWS IN BRIEF ZCTU launches constitutional BY STAFF REPORTER take the appointment as a challenge to duty as I will continue heading the THE food union now has a new organising department. I hope that I rights awareness campaign acting general secretary promoted would be able to administratively from the union's organising steer the union forward. We have a BY CHRISTOPHER MAHOVE department following the lot on our hands, to revive the union he Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) North Eastern resignation of John Peter which will also translate to good Region has launched its Constitutional Rights awareness Gwatiringa last month. fortunes for our mother body the campaign focusing on Labour, Gender and Women's Rights The Federation of Food and Allied Zimbabwe Congress of Trade T aimed at making its membership at all levels conversant with their Workers Unions of Zimbabwe Unions,” he said. constitutional rights. (FFAWUZ) union's national He said he will work towards assist Speaking at the launch, which coincided with the region's belated organising secretary Runesu members to develop their skills, commemorations to mark International Women's Day, North Eastern ‘Munhurume’ Dzimiri was improve and communication Region Chairperson, Jokoniah Mawopa, said the first phase of the appointed acting general secretary promote dignity and self-esteem of programme would focus on the three areas as they resonated with the following an executive meeting that members and the organisation and ZCTU's aims and objectives. stretched into the evening which saw improve the quality of life of the “This campaign that I am standing here to launch today will cover Labour staff members being summoned to members and their working Runesu ‘Munhurume’ Dzimiri Rights as provided for in Section 65, Gender Rights as provided for in be advised of the development on conditions. Section 17 and Women's Rights as provided for in Section 80 of the stint at delta he managed to be in the the day. He paid tribute to ZCTU for Constitution of Zimbabwe,” he said. workers committee for nine years in FFAWUZ President Pilate moulding him into the labour Mawopa said the campaign would see information on these rights different capacities. He also Mushanyuki revealed in a memo activist that he has become to be disseminated to workers at the shop-floor level so that they got know their managed to undergo different trade that Gwatiringa had resigned. through various training courses. rights as enshrined in the supreme law of the land. union trainings and rose to become Dzimiri said he was grateful to the Dzimiri started his union Section 65 provides every worker the right to fair and safe labour the FFAWUZ Young workers lord for his appointment as an involvement back in 1995 as an practices and standards, the right to a fair and reasonable wage and the right chairperson, ZCTU North-eastern appreciation from his superiors on assistant geologist at Shabanie Mine to form and join a workers' union of their own choice among others. region councillor. He was also the his contribution to the organisation. before venturing into the transport Section 17, among other rights, gives the state an obligation to promote African Labour Educators Network “I am grateful for the appointment industry for three years. He full gender balance in the country and to promote the full participation of coordinator for FFAWUZ and is the which is a show of trust and reinforced his trade unionism when women in all spheres on the basis of equality with their male counterparts. current chairperson of the appreciation of my commitment to he joined Delta Corporation where The constitutional provision on the rights of women, Mawopa said, was a Chitungwiza Residents. the organisation by my superiors. I he worked for 12 years. During his major achievement in the history of Zimbabwe as it gave women full and equal dignity of the person with men, including equal opportunities in political, economic and social activities. He said the campaign would empower a lot of female workers as it will Young workers geared for demo help equip them with the knowledge and understanding of their rights at the workplace and in society. BY STAFF REPORTER across the country to participate to with young workers who have either have our voice heard. Young workers lost their jobs or have failed to secure HE Zimbabwe Congress of are the most affected by the issues formal employment. This is the Trade Unions (ZCTU) which labour is raising and need to opportunity to demand our right to Tendo Electronics bid to TNational Young Workers take a leading role,” he said. employment. There is no way that the Council has said it is geared for the The ZCTU Young Workers th government is going to provide for national demonstrations set for the 11 supremo said the young workers were jobs if we do not demand them. We are disown workers flops of this month to defend their space and more vulnerable to the employers' not only asking for jobs but decent rights under attack from the employers machinations compared to the older jobs,” he said. BY CHRISTOPHER MAHOVE and government. employees whose majority have job Makoshori said young workers endo Electronics bid to disown technicians it was underpaying The national young workers security and benefits. were the vanguard of the workers' and had unfairly dismissed hit a brick wall after an arbitrator council chairperson Ian Makoshori “It is apparent that labour market hence they need to lead the said they had mobilised for the action flexibility affects the younger demonstrations. Tordered that the workers be reinstated without loss of salary and were ready to seize the workers, who are usually the first “Every struggle is spearheaded by and benefits. demonstration as an opportunity to targets on retrenchments since they the energetic hence the young workers The company, represented by its Human Resources Manager, only have their issues heard as they are the would be less experienced having need to make sure the demonstrations identified in court papers as Chirambadare, had told Arbitrator C most affected by the issues at stake. served the companies for fewer years. succeed. We will be fighting for our Tanyanyiwa that they had never employed Jonathan Chawarika and 14 “The constituency is ready, we Young workers form the bulk of future which is under threat, we cannot others. have the numbers and the zeal,” he people working on a casual basis and afford to relax and expect the elderly to Chawarika and the others filed a case of unfair labour practice, said. without enough social protection. front the struggle,” he said. underpayment, non-issuance of payslips and non-deduction of statutory Makoshori said this was the right Now that there is the threat of labour He said the ground was ripe for requirements with the NEC Electronics on June 12 2014, and a conciliation time to remind the government and market flexibility, if it sails through action given that similar action has hearing was heard on June 25 by a Designated Agent. employers that workers have power young workers would be left in a more been taken for individual companies The matter was referred to arbitration, where the parties filed written and should not be taken for granted. precarious position,” he said. of late. submissions after the employer party requested for postponement of the “The demonstration or action He called for solidarity from all “Unions have successfully held first hearing, that was set for July 23, 2014. against government and employers young workers in the informal demonstrations and picket action In its submissions, the company said the workers could not make any had been long overdue; we are fully in economy to join in demanding for jobs recently and the national support of the action despite claim against it because they were never employed there and had failed to from the government. demonstrations will surely send the produce any evidence, in the form of copies of contracts, to substantiate previously raising concern over the “The informal economy is flooded message home,” he said. day. I am urging all young workers claims that they were employees of Tendo Electronics. “Without wasting the learned Arbitrator's time in discussing what constitutes substantive and procedural fairness, Respondent notes that Claimants were not its employees and as such, there cannot be an obligation Union auctions KMP property over unpaid salaries to discipline any person with whom no employment relationship existed. lawyers, Ralph Magan'a and “The claimants have not demonstrated at all how they are employees of BY DICKSON CHAERUKA the Chief Justice Godfrey the Respondent. They have not even adduced basic information that any Associates successfully registered Chidyausiku. ZCATWU Regional UTARE - The Deputy the Award at the High Court in July reasonable employee is expected to adduce. The glaring lack of this basic Officer confirmed the development information puts the claimants in a very precarious position,” the company Sherriff has attached 2012 where the Deputy Sheriff was and explained that the union finally Kubudirira Marketing ordered to attach the company's argued. M attached successfully after a series The company further argued that the workers had no right to claim (Pvt) Ltd property to recover over property. of hindrances' with a previous $15 000, 00 owed to workers in On the 11th of February this year, underpayment when they were never employed by Tendo, adding that they deputy sheriff in Mutare . were making a fortuitous attempt to reap where they had not sown. underpayments and terminal the Deputy Sheriff based in Mutare ''The employer was adamant in benefits. attached KMP property worthy $15 However, in passing judgment, the arbitrator said the workers had refusing to own up the debt through produced documents to prove that they were indeed employees of Tendo. KMP failed to comply with an 663. a payment plan outside the courts Arbitral Award passed in favour of The property attached included They proved that they had done installations at Econet Willowvale and New and this forced us to choose the legal World shops, Joina City and other places where the company had contracts. its 22 construction workers in office equipment 1 upright fridge, 8 route. We had problems with some December 2010 by the National piece detachable cupboards, 7 piece “The names of the employees appeared on several documents and were other messengers of court operating signed by the personnel from Tendo Electronics acknowledging that the Employment Council (NEC) for the table, sonny TV, apple computer in town since 2012 when the order Construction Sector. The workers system, 5 detachable glass tables as claimants were employed by respond. It therefore, baffles the mind how was granted to effect the executions then Respondent turns around and says claimants were never his were owed for wage arrears well as office chairs. in the yesteryears but as systems accrued through underpayments for ''You are required and directed to employees. The names of the employees appeared on different dates and changed the High Court Deputy several occasions. the period February 2009 to attach and take into execution the Sheriff made the work easier and September 2009 and terminal movable goods of KMP “On a balance of probabilities, I am persuaded by Claimants' successfully, '' he said. submissions that they were employed by respondent. The fact that they did benefits o after their employment Construction, to realise the sum of The High Court Deputy Sheriff was summarily terminated in US$ 15 810.10 to be paid to not produce pay-slips to substantiate their claims is neither here nor there confirmed that the property would because after all it is Respondent's duty to issue an employee with a copy of September 2009. The arrears had Chrispen Chiwanga & 21 other be put under the auction hammer if accumulated to $15 810,10. mentioned Applicants which they a payslip,” he said. the company failed to offset the debt He further said that the employer had the responsibility to furnish the Representing the workers in the recovered by Judgement of within the stipulated period. matter, the Zimbabwe Construction Honourable Court dated the 28th of employees with copies of contracts. and Allied Trades Workers Union June 2012,'' stated the Register of The arbitrator ordered that the workers be paid damages in lieu of (ZCATWU) through the union's High Court in an order witnessed by reinstatement if it was no longer an option and to approach the arbitrator for quantification of damages. 2015 APRIL, The Worker Page 7 Gvt unilaterally amending labour laws- Moyo Reckless statements by senior government officials have seen the country's courts passing unfavorable judgments against the workers of Zimbabwe, in what the ZCTU describes as the unilateral amendment of the country's labour laws by the government, one of the many reasons the country's biggest labour umbrella body will take to the streets come April 11. Our Correspondent, Christopher Mahove (CM) caught up with the ZCTU Secretary General, Japhet Moyo (JM) to get an insight into the proposed mass demonstrations. Below are excerpts of the interview: announced that it will also engage in mass protests as part of what they lies with the affiliates. We are not do. There are things in our view are calling national convergence doing this for ZCTU staff, we are not government has dragged its feet, for project involving other civic doing this for ZCTU leadership, we example, the legislation of the TNF. organisations. Could this mass are doing this for the affiliate There are things we believe demonstration of yours not be members; therefore the way we have government is not attaching any mistaken as part of this so called been organizing has been to seriously importance, such as Labour Law national convergence project? engage the leadership of the affiliates Reform, which has taken more than JM: We are a different entity from and allow them to make the decision six years. When there are challenges the opposition political parties in this as to when do they want to embark on within the ruling political party, they country and the issues we are raising action, what type of action and on change ministers and government might be different from what the what issues, so everything should programmes are affected. A new political parties are raising with the come from then affiliates themselves. minister comes in, the process is authorities. It might be a coincident So our engagements with the General restarted. We have been going forth that whilst we are talking about a Secretaries, Presidents, regional and back over the issue of Labour Law national demonstration, we also hear structures, district structures was all Reform. And the unilateral in the public domain that the that was done as a way of amendments as we now hear being opposition parties are also planning a conscietising our affiliates and that is articulated by the minister that there similar activity. how we have been mobilising for this will be no retrenchment packages to It is our hope that the police will action. We might not be able to do like be paid. They are merely announcing look at the issues, or the authorities what we previously were known for that as a policy. Those should look at the issues, or doing, like printing of pamphlets, but pronouncements tend to influence Zimbabweans should look at the one on one discussions with union other processes. That's the reason we issues which we are raising so that leaders became central in mobilising have problems with judgments they can make their judgment as to so the responsibility really lies with coming from the High Court against whether we are peddling the the unions. workers. In our view those judgments opposition party agenda or we are CM: And talking of issues; you are influenced by these pushing workers issues only. have raised quite a number of issues announcements that workers can be So in our view, the issues being that are of concern to you, don't you removed from their workplaces on the raised by workers; Labour Market JAPHET MOYO think these could be too many for basis of a notice, without paying any Flexibility, as indicated in our the government to address them in severance packages. They are offices. So they are public petition, clearly is different from what CM: The ZCTU is said to be one year? What were you thinking amending the law already. What about processions, public demonstrations. the opposition political parties are planning nationwide about when you came up with so the convention on separation? Obviously as it will be on a weekend, raising. So these are two different demonstrations, how prepared or many issues for this one CM: And lastly would you have we are going to still carry petitions but activities. We are not even privy to ready are you for this action? demonstration? any parting words for Zimbabwean we might have already delivered the how and when the opposition political JM: I am not sure about the actual JM: You are aware that the TNF has workers as we near the day of the petitions during the working week so parties will be engaging in their own question when you say; is said to be; not been sitting for some time and in demonstrations? that the officials are aware of exactly convergence demonstrations. we are really preparing for the our view, resuscitating TNF JM: ZCTU represents interests and what we are raising. CM: We have had mass protests demonstrations. A decision has been discussions might have an effect of these interests have to be defended. CM: So you are saying you have or demonstrations, from the look of made by the General Council that it is These can be people in formal jobs, already notified the police? things, which did not quite yield the high time we should flex our muscles. self-employed, housewives and JM: We have already written to desired results. Do you see this We should indicate to the authorities school leavers looking for jobs, they respective regional offices within the particular demonstration at least that we are not happy with a number of all fall under the category of the six regions. We have on all the six maybe pushing government to act things; the decay of the economy and working class. So what we are doing is regions not received yet any response over the demands that you are the utterances by certain government to defend their interests. from the police but I need to indicate pushing? authorities. So we consulted widely As such we would urge all those that we are merely informing the We have a different view. Our over a period of time. Some of you groups regardless of their party authorities that this is what we intend actions over the years have produced will recall that the president of the affiliation to look at the issues we are to do as trade unions. We still believed results. Let me give an example that ZCTU has traveled across the country raising and support the actions we based on the law and earlier judgments the last we engaged in protest action meeting structures and the feeling was take. on similar issues we still believe that was in December 2008, where we that we need to register our The anger is directed to the police have no authority in refusing us ended up meeting the then (Reserve displeasure with the government and capitalists. Unfortunately, the or purporting to be giving us Bank) Governor. the employers that this talk of Labour resolving many issues because that is authorities in politics are part of that permission. But as a matter of We pressurized authorities to either Marker Flexibility, productivity where people can agree on what can be capitalists' structure. So we are not procedure we are merely notifying the allow workers to withdraw their entire linked salaries, bad policies by done; when and how; and that is a fighting a particular political party, we police. By so doing, we are not giving earnings from the banks or allow authorities we are not happy as platform where government can make are fighting a system, a policy which is them an obligation of thinking that we employers to pay salaries in foreign workers. So emanating from those a commitment on how they intend to threatening our interests as a working are bestowing on them certain powers, currency and the next budget in the various discussions and consultations, deal with the issues. So it is not a class. So unity is paramount; and not at all. following year was in American the General Council came to a matter of saying theses things are something we should not do is give in, CM: So in other words you are dollars. And to us that was as a result conclusion that now is the time we many so government should do them we should not surrender but support saying no matter the response from of discussions, coupled with should embark on action. To us that is over night but the absence of the the cause and come in numbers when the police, the demonstrations will demonstrations we had embarked on a clear indication that workers discussions creates a situation where ZCTU says lets show our strength and go on? in December of the previous year. So themselves are prepared to we draw an inference that the our anger. We are not disrupting JM: Previously ZCTU has always ZCTU demonstrations over the years demonstrate. authorities are not attaching any anyone's business. What we intend to made sure that we do things according have yielded results. I think what is left is for the office to importance to the issues and the do is for the benefit of everyone. look at the technical or logistical to the law to protect our members. If So I think what we have been doing demonstration is highlighting that. issues. In the event that the authorities the police says no, I foresee a situation over the years has yielded results There are things which in our view where the ZCTU will seek a peace because you are aware that we don't accept what we are doing, we are do not need money for government to prepared to take them head on in court. order .That's what we have done in the managed to bring the Commission of In the event that the authorities previous actions and we don't see us Inquiry, the first of its kind in intervene using state security, I am getting a different judgment from Zimbabwe. It was because of the work talking about propaganda, we are what we have been favored with in the we have been doing as the ZCTU; prepared to respond to that. In my previous instances. taking the government up to the view we have managed to argue our It is our hope that the State will International Labour Organisation on case in various fora. abide by the seven recommendations human rights abuses and trade union We have written articles, we have or one of the seven. abuses. taken interviews in the electronic Recommendations in the CM: So how have you been media arguing against the so called Commission of Inquiry report which mobilizing workers for this LMF LLR, decaying economy and clearly states that they should observe demonstration and how has been other issues. So in my view yes we are workers' rights. So it is within our the response? ready for action. rights to demonstrate as enshrined in JM: The ZCTU is a congress of CM: What format will this the Constitution and the Zimbabwe affiliates and whatever programmes demonstration take? government made a commitment that we do, we do for the benefit of the JM: This demonstration is going to they will do it. The interface we had affiliates and we have made it very involve members gathering first at previously with the police under the clear that it should be the affiliates their respective regional offices and technical assistance of the ILO we who should take the responsibility to then march through the agreed routes sought to explain how we operate as a mobilise workers, because it is the to the nearest Ministry of Labour Trade Union and we hope that police affiliates which are members of the offices or Resident Minister's offices officers now understand that ours is ZCTU and the individual workers are in the case of regions where there are purely labour issues, nothing more. members of the affiliates. So the CM: But then the MDC has also actual responsibility to bring numbers no Ministry of Labour designated NRZ employees demonstrating against non payment of salaries Page 8 The Worker, APRIL 2015 2015 IWD Commemorations

ZCTU Central Region members cleaning up at Kudzanai Bus Terminus in Gweru before moving to the regional office for the commemoration. The day was graced by the ZCTU President George Nkiwane and WAC members Barbra Tanyanyiwa WAC Secretary Nyasha Benza WAC vice chair and NUMAIZ women's desk

Western Region IWD commemorations were held at Entembeni Old People's Home in Luveve surburb. The region visited the Old people’s home where they spruced up the facility and assisted the senior citizens with some of their day to day chores. This was in line with the ZCTU social responsibility initiative to reach out to communities

ABOVE:- Northeastern region members commemorating IWD at Rugare Primary School in Harare.

Northern Region workers commemorating the day in Chinhoyi

LEFT - ZCTU secretary general Japhet Moyo addressing members in Rugare.

RIGHT: Some of goods donated to a local children’s home in Rugare. The commodities were sourced by women in the Northeastern region 2015 APRIL, The Worker Page 9 Page 10 The Worker, APRIL 2015 A life of banana innovations Secondary. The now very successful BY KIMION TAGWIREI fruits at primary and secondary school. I quit the security job in banana dealer accommodates learned Strolling up and down Marondera December 1991 because the wages people in his houses and gains a lot sleepy streets gets lovely when you were not satisfying and I then started from their rent. “I am grateful to God, I spot a healthy looking fifty year old selling bananas in 1992.” am not educated. I failed school but man always in yellow work suit, The adage that says a journey of a today I am accommodating learned yellow sunhat or sometimes cap, and thousand miles begins with a single people and they pay rent to me”, he yellow shoes, behind a nice tricycle step holds water to Bigboy Chiremba said, in a visibly jovial mood. written Marondera Bananas, loaded as he started in a very humble way – “I Well thoughtful in business, Bigboy with large, sweet bananas that started by selling bananas in a basket. Chiremba has a hawker's licence highlight a great story about his entire Eventually I bought a wheelbarrow, which authorizes him to sell his life. developed and bought two more bananas without fear of the police. He So soft and highly attractive with his wheelbarrows and employed some envisions buying a business stand for a all yellow outfits, the man, Bigboy young men to sell for me.” big banana market in Marondera. “I Chiremba sells bananas wonderfully From that humble beginning, Bigboy have a vision to own a big business as an experienced vendor who has developed and achieved a lot. He has stand for banana market here in been selling bananas for the past 23 bought two six roomed houses in Marondera. I do not know if there is an solid years. Cherutombo high density suburb in association that assists vendors, but if The yellow man is one of the most eye- Marondera. Currently, Chiremba has it is there somewhere, I wish they catching vendors in Marondera. He joined Destiny for Africa Network co- come to Marondera and assist us to arguably attracts more customers than operative, working towards his third realize our big dreams.” any other vendors wherever he stands house. “I have three boys, so I am Bigboy says that he used to get – in town and in locations. Whenever working hard to build each son a house ABOVE ; Banana man on duty and below is the house of bananas prospective clients look at him, they so that they won't have any problem quickly get attracted by his lovely even when I leave this earth” so wise, yellow outfit that corresponds with the Bigboy appears to be, against all odds. colour of his high quality bananas. Contrary to public perceptions that Most attractive too, is his personalized portray vendors as poverty-stricken, trade name Chiremba Marondera Bigboy broke educational and Bananas which is written on his economic limitations to realize his yellow work suit and on his tricycle. dreams through selling bananas in “This is my trade name, I have Marondera. familiarized with and attracted my Beaming with joy from his banana clients all my life with this yellow business success, Bigboy Chiremba colour that speaks bananas wherever I designed and placed a banana signage am, and I am doing well” he spoke out on his houses. Marondera residents no in a still voice that speaks volumes longer know and locate him from his about his humility. yellow outfits only, but also by his Never schooled anywhere after houses which carry his supposedly completing and failing ordinary level banana logo – which can be seen on the education, but Bigboy Chiremba frontage of his houses from a distance. understands marketing so much that Bigboy has associated almost he wins customers from a distance. “I everything he owns, with sweet considered dressing in a unique way bananas. that speaks who I am, as a marketing Hard work and focus are his watch strategy, so that customers can identify words – “I have learnt over these me from wherever they are. I think twenty-three years in banana business three quarters of Marondera residents that hard work and focus produces can now spot me from long distances. good results. My success comes from That has won me customers and that. money. I am smart and people love Kana uchida kubudirira buying fruits from smart traders.” He mukutengesa mabanana usaita added, in a soft voice. chiporofita, usaita n'anga, This man began selling bananas in usatengesa muriwo nemadomasi 1992, at the age of twenty seven, after same time – focus yakakosha nekuti resigning from Guard Alert Security ukazviwanza haubudirire (if you Company where he once tried to eke want to succeed in any business focus. married to Florence Mashingaidze. out a living from. “I joined Guard Do not run many projects same time Chiremba's bananas are usually all The couple has three children – and Alert in 1991 and left in December that because you won't manage).” He said. averagely $150 per week in times large and smart, usually carried in a two of them are a bit mentally and year. My dream was to start something Bigboy Chiremba was born in when the economy was better than tricycle written Marondera Bananas, physically challenged. of my own. My father, who was Murambinda village of Buhera in today. “These days I get averagely 50 which begets him more clients than “I am making sure that I build my third farming bananas all his life used to 1965, in a family of twelve. He dollars per week. The economy is bad other vendors who sell dirty and small house, so that each of my children teach me business, and with all my attended Mudanda Primary School but I will soldier on until I realize all bananas. owns a house,” he said. brothers and sisters, we sold various and then proceeded to Viriri my dreams.” The great banana vendor is happily Health workers, HSB clash without any formal consultations committee on health notifying them indecorous behavior never expected HSB's decision to dock doctors' BY STAFF REPORTER with the ZHDA which sits in the of the constitutional flaws and by a government employee who salaries after they went on strike and HE Zimbabwe Hospital Health Services Bipartite irregularities in the proposed should be knowledgeable that junior late payment of their bonuses which Doctors Association Negotiating Forum in which all contract and doctors unanimous doctors have graduated from various led nurses in public hospitals to (ZHDA) has rejected health workers and government rejection of the contract. universities, deliver hundreds of embark on a go-slow. T babies daily, certify the deceased as Nyamande in a statement said the contract proposals for junior team of negotiators sit on a monthly The doctors also asked doctors describing them as 'ill- basis to discuss contractual issues,” government to audit HSB accounts government doctors and constitute government should set up an advised and poorly drafted' by a said Fortune Nyamande ZHDA to find out how it disbursed funds 95 percent of doctors working in our enquiry into the operations of the board that has failed to protect President. received from the Health Transition government hospitals. HSB saying it had to disclose how their interests for years. He said the ZHDA members Fund. In January the ZHDA petitioned much money it had been receiving The Health Services Board countrywide had described the HSB “The recent move is a vindication Vice President Emmerson from the Health Transition Fund (HSB) had drafted contracts spelling as a board that has now totally to the long published position by the Mnangagwa to immediately (HTF). out conditions of service for junior become irrelevant, defunct, ZHDA that there indeed are some dissolve the HSB for failing to He said the HSB also had an doctors who have for years been on a directionless, vindictive and individuals in the board who are represent the interests of workers in obligation to explain the procedure collision course with their employer infested by a bloated secretariat that whole heartedly working to the sector. The ZHDA also advised they used to deduct doctors' salaries over unfavourable working only served their selfish and petty discredit government, its leadership government to immediately after the latter embarked on an conditions. minded interests which are clearly and always create a collision investigate and dissolve the Health industrial action last year. In a statement the ZHDA said it outside the pursuance of the national between doctors and their Services Board as it has become a “We also reiterate our appeal to would not accept the proposal which interest. employer,” he said. breeding ground for quarrels with government to immediately set up was done without any consultation. The ZHDA has since written to The association also blasted HSB doctors, nurses and other health an enquiry into the duties, conduct “After a week of nationwide the Chief Secretary to the Office of statement that described junior workers on seemingly trivial and actions of the HSB. Key consultations with its members, the the President and Cabinet, the doctors on houseman ship as agendas. questions which they should ZHDA members unanimously Minister of Health, the Health “medical students who were Nyamande has since challenged immediately answer include which rejected the ill-advised and poorly Services Board Chairperson, the enjoying the benevolence of the HSB members to disclose their legal framework they used to drafted contract for junior doctors Minister now responsible for Public working without contracts”. pay sheet showing bonuses they unilaterally and illegally deduct our proposed by the Health Services Service, the Medical and Dental “This statement has been allegedly received last year. Tension salaries,” he said. Board. The ZHDA membership Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe received by the ZHDA membership between the board and the noted that the contracts were drafted and the Parliamentary portfolio as a direct provocation, reckless and association escalated following the 2015 APRIL, The Worker Page 11 Unions reject Govt's 5% pay increase offer Botswana diamond JAMAICA - THE Government failed to negotiate the first hurdle on its way to a new labour agreement with its rank and file employees yesterday when an initial five per cent pay increase offer was rejected by trade unions. workers bleed The Jamaica Observer was told that the Ministry of Finance made an initial offer of three per cent in the first year, and an additional two per cent in the NALYSIS - For the tension between De Beers and many weeks. The international box can be second year, of a new two-year deal, which Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips diamond-cutting industry of its buyers will no doubt be sent anywhere for processing and so, had said should be concluded by next Tuesday. Ain Botswana, the In aggravated by the reported jump in De in a bear market for polished Observer sources also said that the unions are demanding that a number of January, the press reported that Beers's 2014 underlying earnings by diamonds, which it is at present, the outstanding items from their 2012/2015 Heads of Agreement should be diamond cutters MotiGanz and 74% year on year – to $923-million. local manufacturers, many of whom resolved, prior to signing a new agreement. Leo Schachter had laid off 150 The diamond-cutting industry has have access to an international box, The 11 unions have jointly submitted claims for improvements in the workers' workers. Then a bombshell was also fallen victim worldwide to the can simply close their factories in wages/salaries and working conditions, ending some six years of a wage freeze dropped – the Teemane limiting of bank credit to the industry, Botswana, lose access to their in the public sector. The new agreement will cover two years, unlike the Manufacturing Company, owned which has made it even more difficult Botswana box, but still continue previous two contractual agreements which were for three years. It will also by Diarough, would close, with the to operate. production in India or China. possibly perpetuate the one-off payment which the Government offered as a loss of about 320 jobs in Serowe. As a result, gross margins are As Chaim Even Zohar, the guru of carrot in 2013 to induce the workers to accept a further wage freeze. It is the biggest employer in the falling in the cutting industry, and the diamond industry, said in a recent The trade unions want the Government to continue these payments, but village and the consequences will be diamond manufacturers are closing statement on the 2004 agreement: increase it to $50,000 per annum (from the current $25,000 per annum) at least felt for years to come – about 2 000 their highest-cost operations in “There were penalties to be paid if the for the next two years. However, the issue could be one of the early sticking people are dependents of those Southern Africa. targets [of beneficiation] were not points, as the Government is hobbled by the International Monetary Fund's employed in the industry. With a total There are no surprises in this, reached. In the current [2011] focus on public sector salaries falling to nine per cent of GDP by the end of reported employment in the diamond except for the fact that the deal the contract, I understand, the US$ value 2016/17. cutting and polishing industry of 3 Botswana government made with De of local rough sales are still Dr Phillips has said that the Government will work with the trade unions to 750 in 2014, this is a massive Beers in 2004, and revised in 2011, contractually agreed, but there is no ensure that any agreement reached in the current negotiations will be consistent retrenchment. specifically required diamantaires agreed minimum employment level.” with meeting the nine per cent of GDP ratio by 2017, which will be the final year In 2013, Botswana is reported to who were Diamond Trading This was done to allow the of the agreement now being negotiated. have exported polished diamonds Company (Botswana) (DTCB) companies to use highly automated Information available from the Government shows that the wage to GDP ratio is worth 6.6-billion pula (R7.9-billion). sightholders to cut and polish in machinery but will have the effect of currently at 9.8 per cent, and will create a serious challenge for the Government Two reasons are usually given for Botswana. allowing these sightholders and De to reduce it to nine per cent in the next 12 months, while granting pay and fringe the closures in Botswana's diamond Under this deal, the sightholders Beers to get off without the sorts of benefits improvements to its workers. sector. The first is structural – would eventually get $800-million penalties in the earlier agreement. Dr Phillips says that the funding provided in the Estimates of Expenditure, Botswana, like Namibia and South worth of rough diamonds to process in What has happened to the which were passed in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, would at Africa, cannot compete with the low- Botswana. But they are not fools, and diamond-cutting industry is what least ensure a 3.4 per cent increase for public sector workers. cost and high-productivity places they knew at the time that Botswana is economists call regulatory failure. Some $21 billion in additional funding was allocated under "contingencies", such as Surat and Mumbai in India, a high-cost location. So why did they The closure of the factories in but this will substantially cover outstanding arrears, including $11 billion for where most of the world's diamonds set up operations here? Botswana would probably never have back pay for groups that settled their disputes in 2014/15, as well as the final are cut. Industry sources have claimed occurred if the country's agreement $25,000 in one-off payments. The other $10 billion will be used to meet The second is squeezed margins. that, in the past, the sightholders with De Beers had said that firms that outstanding statutory deductions owed by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company, Wages in Botswana are about the would occasionally get thrown a do not beneficiate a portion of their central government expenditure arrears and other contingency provisions. same as they are in India but the “special stone” by De Beers to sights in Southern Africa cannot have Jamaica Observer differences are in productivity. Indian compensate them for being in access to Southern African diamonds cutters will produce two to three times Botswana. – full stop. as much as those in Botswana. This is These stones are multimillion- But, instead, we have created a Japanese metalworkers not new – it was known before the dollar diamonds and the profit from complex marketing formula, which establishment of the industry in the one is often enough to compensate made the cost of leaving Botswana in the current bear market very low. The secure major wage increase firms that closed their doors will Japanese metalworkers' unions achieved the largest annual wage increase in 16 continue to have access to Botswana's years in their 2015 Spring Offensive. The Japanese metalworkers submit diamonds. Thus, in a sense, the demands on wages and working conditions every February, and engage in situation in which De Beers was collective bargaining. claimed to have “subsidised rough The Japanese economy has been suffering from deflation and is in a period of with rough” has now been reversed – uncertainty. The unions believe that increased salaries will contribute to Botswana provides rough for the revitalizing the economy. The Japan Council of Metalworkers' Unions (JCM) Indian industry at the cost of the represents members of 50 unions at major companies in the automotive, ICT country's evaporating polished electrical and electronics, machinery, iron and steel, and shipbuilding diamond industry. industries. If there had been an arrangement In particular, JCM is emphasizing the following achievements. that said only those firms operating All trade unions managed to secure the regular pay raise portion. This is a plants in Botswana, Namibia and substantive monthly raise amounting to about 2 per cent (roughly 6,000 yen, or South Africa could have access to De US$50). Beers's African diamonds, the plant in In addition to the regular pay raise, 97 percent of the unions demanding wage Serowe would probably be open increases were successful in reaching agreements on an additional amount of today. 2,801 yen. Along with the increase in base salary, this amounts to a total Diarough will continue to operate monthly increase of approximately 8,801 yen. its factories in India and Thailand, Agreements securing average annual bonus payments equivalent to 5.26 and neither it nor De Beers will suffer months' pay (a year-on-year increase of 0.1 months) were reached by 33 unions. the consequences of the job losses. Agreements securing a 2,004 yen monthly increase to intra-company minimum Was this foreseen at the time the wages were reached by 24 unions. This also contributes to raising wages for producers. agreement with De Beers was signed 1990s. unorganized workers and non-regular workers as well. De Beers strongly denied this at in 2011? Almost certainly not – it was The table shows the costs of Regarding the improvement of working conditions for non-regular workers, the time but the practice has certainly what economists call an unintended cutting and polishing a rough some unions were also able to draw out positive, concrete answers and come to an end. In 2012, the last year consequence of the negotiated diamond in various places. Botswana cooperative, favorable commitments from management. before diamond export figures marketing system. has become more competitive but it In a statement about the results achieved in the 2015 Spring Offensive, JCM became confused with re-exports Similarly, Botswana has imposed cannot compete with India, although declared, “For unions that will elicit replies hereafter as well, we will continue associated with aggregation, beneficiation obligations on De Beers it is more competitive than either to advance support so that they can soundly win wage increases above the Botswana exported diamonds worth but, at the same time, state-owned South Africa or Namibia. amount secured last year, as has been the case with the responses received thus about $4-billion. companies such as Okavango and Despite the growth in far.” If $800-million or so goes to private ones such as Lucara and Gem employment in Botswana over the DTCB sightholders, what happens to Diamonds are exempted from the past few years, the diamond finishing the other $3-billion that Botswana same obligations. The buyers from Zambian unions back new retirement age industry is now “going south”. produces? these companies can take their stones Zambia - In a surprise move, a technical committee of two trade union But what has changed to make it De Beers has 84 sightholders, to be cut in India. In this way, mother bodies set up to look at the revision of the retirement age has necessary to close so many factories according to its website, of which 21 government policy encourages supported the upward from 55 years old to 65 and to lay off thousands of workers on are in manufacturing in Botswana. diamond trading but undermines Federation of Tree Trade Unions of Zambia -FFTUZ- President Chingati Msiska the continent? The rest take their diamonds out in one Botswana's beneficiation efforts. says his union and the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions -ZCTU- are in support As can be seen from the chart, of the other four “boxes”, that is, It is time for Botswana, Namibia of the new policy measure on retirement. since about July 2012, the margin Namibia, South Africa and Canada, and South Africa to reconsider their Msiska says government officials have been on record supporting the between the price of rough diamonds where some of these De Beers agreements with De Beers and see adjustment and 0.5 carat polished diamonds have sightholders have beneficiation what can be done to assure that saying it would help restructure the pension scheme so that retiring workers do been narrowing. obligations. diamond beneficiation in Southern not become destitute. This has given rise to some But a large chunk of all the Africa takes place in the way it was Msiska adds that government has honestly stated that pension houses like the increasingly bad-tempered exchanges diamonds produced in Southern intended. Local Authority Supernuation Fund -LASF- and Public Service Pensions Fund between Philippe Mellier, the chief Africa go into what used to be called These are the views of Professor have no money to pay pensioners at the moment. executive of the De Beers Group and the “London box”, which, since the Roman Grynberg and not He says the measure has the potential to enable pension houses collect enough the head of the International Diamond selling operation was moved to necessarily those of any institution funds and prevent them from going bankrupt. Msiska was speaking during a Manufacturers' Association, Maxim Gaborone in 2013, is now called an with which he is affiliated. media briefing in Lusaka. Government last year announced the upward Shkadov, who in January this year “international sight”. Sightholders Mail&Guardian adjustment of the retirement age from 55 to 65 years. claimed that the margins of his may get up to five boxes of diamonds members were close to zero. This at the Gaborone sights every 10 Page 12 The Worker, APRIL 2015 Morgan is the real deal

he empire that Tendai “Wanachi” Biti tried to create is falling apart Tspectacularly. After wooing a handful of members of parliament into the so-called MDC Renewal, it appears the project is an FTT (read Failure To Thrive). We hear Tendai is no longer seeing eye to eye with Elton Mangoma who is also eying the post of party president. At one time there were reports of a near fist-fight between the two. So the split was nothing about Morgan Tsvangirai's alleged dictatorship. It was about two ambitious people who wanted to lead the party. A further blow to the party was when Morgan Tsvangirai successfully petitioned Parliament to have coup plotters expelled from parliament. Despite calling himself a legal guru, Biti fell flat on this one. Instead of contesting the seats to prove their popularity, they were like crybabies claiming that Grace Mugabe Tendai Biti Tsvangirai was donating the seats to Zanu PF. President, is at it again trying to break the world stories eZimuroi rekwa Dotito (about a witch I really feel sorry for people like Lucia wife and children. record of flight hours in his new role as SADC from Dotito). If she dies some people might end Matibenga who were led along the garden path. So these two forces were united by their and AU chair. He seemed to have relinquished up believing it. In fact, someone might go You see Tendai is a lawyer while Mangoma is hatred for Morgan Tsvangirai. The two leaders his reigns at home to Emmerson Mnangagwa behind bars for murder! an accountant. Tendai has already gone back to must face reality: Morgan is the real deal and Phelekezela Mphoko. FINALLY poor Robert Martin Gumbura, his legal team and I am not sure of Mangoma. despite his weaknesses. He has the people's Whilst he is in the air, Zimbabwe is burning the jailed End Time Message leader, was last Some of the rebel MPs had no profession to fall support. with the country in total collapse. He is burning month back in court for allegedly attempting to on. Some had never worked anywhere. They all It also appears the envisaged United millions of dollars when the country is staring a break away from prison and leading a strike have bills to settle and like what Americans say, Movement for Democratic Change (UMDC) is devastating drought. If he has failed to save against poor living conditions. I hope he was its gona be rough for them. facing a stillbirth before the much hyped about Zimbabwe, why does he think he can solve not thinking about his ten or so wives. He is While the MDC Renewal was smothering, Congress. We hear that there Africa's woes? serving a 40 year jail term for raping church the MDC Ncube was also is so much infighting for There are also reports that the first lady, members. Whether he was part to the latest collapsing as leaders positions that the idea is on Grace Mugabe, is not feeling well and that allegations or not, if he is convicted he will get resigned one after another the verge of collapsing. explains her sudden disappearance from the more to his 40 years. It is as good as a life citing intolerance by CHIGUMURA Chigumura does not shed a public. After her grand entrance into the sentence. Chigumura is not sure of what is the Welshmen Ncube. Why tear. In fact, it is good political sphere, we would surely be unhappy to situation with his wives yet, but I bet within the people were taking Ncube's riddance to a group of people see her exit to the outer world just like that. next two to three years most of them will have project seriously is a who were busy blocking After all, she might be needed to answer one or remarried. wonder. Besides being change. two questions in the future on her role in the I am not sure if any of the wives were present politically frigid, Ncube has ROBERT Vasco da Gama eviction of innocent souls in favour of animals during this time around in solidarity! Hapana no following except by his Mugabe, the visiting in Mazowe. We also hate to believe all those chekumiriria! Dzamara Saga - false start to democracy disappearances are an act of the state Jukwa series in its publications. He meant to silence dissenting voices fled Zimbabwe for South Africa in against the glaring misrule of the 2003 with some of his immediate current government and economic relatives fearing for their safety after meltdown that has plunged more than several threats over their activism and 80 percent of the population in abject support of the movement for poverty. These barbaric acts shy away democratic change in the disputed from the basic freedoms, rights and 2002 presidential elections. protection as guaranteed by the A UK based Zimbabwean human national constitution. We call upon rights activist Walter Shoko who is the state to stop pretending and also facing arrest upon returning to shedding crocodile tears and own up to Zimbabwe has said Dzamara's arrest its constitutional responsibilities and was a clear sign that the government respect people's rights had not reformed. notwithstanding their scrutiny of the Speaking from his base in the UK government and the ruling party Shoko said most activists would think leaders, he said. twice before coming back to The ZCTU urged all responsible Zimbabwe. citizens and authorities to continue “The arrest of Dzamara soon after voicing concern over Dzamara's criticizing the government at an disappearance and demand for his safe opposition rally was a clear sign that return from the belly of state the ruling party was not repentant. dungeons. The country is still submerged in Dzmara's mafia style abduction and despotism; there is clear evidence that disappearance after criticizing criticising the ruling party or Mugabe President Robert Mugabe brings sad is a crime in Zimbabwe despite memories of Jestina Mukoko who several court rulings on the contrary. disappeared for several months only to We had hope in the new constitution resurface on the brink of death in but recent developments have shown Itai Dzamara being wisked away by the police for demonstrating against President Mugabe’s continued stay in office police custody. that democracy and freedom are not BY STAFF WRITER nurture the culture of tolerance it had rocket scientist to interpret. Many Zimbabweans who have been achievable,” he said. created and with hardly two years the Several calls for Dzamara's release abducted in this same manner Shoko who along with the likes of imbabwean authorities are nation has slipped back to the dark old have fallen on deaf ears forcing over resurfaced in bad shape after heavy Wilf Mbanga editor in chief of the increasing surveillance on days. 98 civil society organizations to torture and battering such as Jim Zimbabwean newspaper, Trish Zrights activists and will The leopard has not changed its consider petitioning the Southern Kunaka, Lovemore Madhuku, Nelson Mbanga, Simon Chifamba , Ephraim descend mercilessly on any spots, it has just shrugged of the ash Africa Development Community and Chamisa and others. The unlucky ones Chinana, South African based dissenting voices, a development and its true colours are revealing. the African Union to weigh in for the like Tonderai Ndira resurfaced dead journalist Mxolisi Ncube are accused that might force many government The heavy handedness of the state activist's safe return. while Rashiwe Guzha was never of actively contributing to the critics outside the country to apparatus went a gear up last month The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade found. The sad development is that not Facebook page character Baba reconsider coming back. with the arrest of Itai Dzamara Unions (ZCTU) has also voiced even a single perpetrator of such Jukwa. The government of national unity sending shockwaves across the concern challenging the government heinous acts has been arrested. Prior to the 2013 election the likes of had created a relatively safe opposition and civic society to come clean on Dzamara's abduction He ran a blog page where he Chifamba and Chinana addressed a environment for democracy. The new organizations critical to the and disappearance. expressed similar views accusing the number of anti-Mugabe vigils in constitution had brought hope of government. His abduction days after In a statement the ZCTU secretary nonagenarian of abusing the state London attacking the regime for commitment to the rule of law and addressing an opposition rally, general Japhet Moyo said the labour security apparatus to kill and suppress overstaying in power and stifling the safety for government critics. The expressing his opinion on the current body was called for a stop to the freedom of expression and rigging rule of law. GNU'S short lifespan has provided the political system, preceded by senseless assault on people's elections. He also contributed anti biggest revelation on the nature of the demonstrating and petitioning the fundamental rights. Mugabe opinions in the Zimbabwean ZaNU-PF government it could not head of State to step down need no “History has taught us that such newspaper that reproduced the Baba 2015 APRIL, The Worker Page 13 Reform education systems to improve youth employment opportunities

increasing the presence of female into the mainstream of the economy teachers; improving teacher to ensure a broad-based, inclusive training; confronting violence; growth strategy (equity-growth working with parents; providing approach). This can be achieved by separate sanitation for girls; consciously directing resources to providing school based health uplift the marginalized groups education program; and raising the (women, youths and people living minimum age of marriage. with disabilities among others) and Active labour market programs underdeveloped sectors (informal, (ALMPs) are an important subsistence and communal). component of attempts by several Essentially therefore, the African governments to increase the macroeconomic, and other availability of labour and developmental policies need to be employment opportunities. employment-and gender focused. In These policies are used to this regard, an employment enhance employment opportunities (poverty)-oriented national budget for youth because they increase the has to be crafted on the basis of chances that a young person with the stakeholder agreed priority areas and right skills will find work by measures. increasing the demand for his or her To achieve a Sustainable Human labour. Development Approach requires ALMPs can take several forms. that the people and their needs come First, training programs can be used first, implying a human-rights to enhance skills and raise human strategy to development. Thus, the capital, thereby enhancing the prioritisation of people and their Most youths have devised ways of advertising their careers as unemployment bites productivity and employability of basic needs such as food security, youth. These programs include healthcare, education, housing imbabwe has a largely There is also a mismatch between assisting those who have not transport, access to public utilities youthful population. The education and training outcomes and O' levels, students are labelled completed or have inadequate such as electricity, water, sanitation 2012 population census labor market requirements (educated failures, and yet they could be good formal education to alleviate their etc), decent jobs paying a living Z in practical areas. conditions by providing vocational wage, and infrastructure should puts Zimbabwe's total population unemployed). This has been at 13,061,239 with 77 per cent exacerbated by insufficient growth In this regard, curricula have to be training and apprenticeships. occupy pride of first place in consisting of children and youth and diversification and weak re-defined so as to meet the specific An example is the Egypt- budgetary allocations. below 35 years of age. aggregate demand. needs of the non-formal and formal Germany Initiative, which operated In this context, the economic Youth aged 15-34 years number The 2011 (LFCLS) showed that sectors of the economy. The from 1995 to 2002 as a dual strategy has to be auto centric 4,702,046 which constitutes 36 per 91 per cent of the population curricula have to stress business education system. For these (internally-driven) as opposed to the cent of the national population and employed in the informal sector had education and the acquisition of programs to be effective, current situation where the economy those aged between 15-24 years are no skills. The current Technical, practical skills at an early stage of a coordination between the public and is externally (exogenously) 20 per cent. While youth aged 15-34 Vocational, Education Training child's education. private sectors is necessary to determined. years constitute 56 per cent of the (TVET) system is inadequate to There is therefore a need for the improve the chances that workers This integrative, transformative economically active population only meet the skills training and will be gainfully employed after agenda should also focus on 9 per cent are employed in the formal employment needs of the young their training. strengthening backward and sector. people. The number of young people It is important to involve young forward linkages through the The scourge of unemployment currently enrolled in TVET people in a meaningful way in all exploitation of value chains and and underemployment is one of the institutions and in apprenticeships is stages of policymaking, and not just value systems among firms and major challenges facing the young a negligible proportion of the out-of with respect to youth policies but sectors. Establishing firms and people in Zimbabwe. school youth who require skills for also in terms of developing national sectors with coordinated value The youths have been worst employment and industry growth. development plans. chains can lead to a broad-based, affected by the deindustrialisation Other challenges facing the youth Youths (especially rural youths) more inclusive and employment and resultant informalisation of the include: a high incidence of chronic have generally been excluded from intensive growth path. economy. poverty and a lack of effective decision-making and policy A good example is the case of The 2012 Population Census data participation in the political and formulation processes, which Kondozi horticultural farm that shows that the youth aged 15-34 policy processes. Youth re-orientation of the education and rendered policies implemented by established extensive linkages with years constitute 84 per cent of the representatives in other countries training systems away from their governments and other social its hinterland in such a manner that unemployed population and those such as South Africa are part of the current academic thrust towards the partners unrepresentative of their apart from direct employment in the aged 15-24 years constitute 55 per social dialogue processes. In acquisition of practical skills such as views and aspirations. concern, the communities were cent. The statistics also indicate that particular a number of countries carpentry, metal work, wood work, Traditionally youth participation developed into out-growers. Sadly, the highest concentration of 31 per have established national tripartite welding among others. This calls for in international and national Government compulsorily took over cent of the unemployed is between forums which include young a more demand-driven training institutions have been viewed as the farm and destroyed what was the ages of 20 and 24 years. representatives of employers' and system (such as traditional mere 'tokenism', making it difficult becoming an excellent example of Youth unemployment also has a workers' organizations to oversee apprenticeships). for them to claim ownership of the exploitation of the value chains and gender dimension with higher levels the implementation of the National Educational reforms to improve results of such consultations. systems of an individual entity in a of unemployment among female Youth plans. employment opportunities for youth Furthermore informal economy virtuous manner. youths. This is despite the fact that A study carried out by Jensen will not only involve an emphasis on traders, who are predominantly Useful examples have emerged in there are more females than males in (2010) also reveals that youth in science, engineering and technology youths, are not represented in any recent years in sectors such as tea / the population. The majority of the Zimbabwe have limited space and but also entail a change in the kind of social dialogue institution, coffee growing, textiles and youths are involved in small scale their participation in almost all pedagogical approach to emphasize thus effectively excluding them clothing, furniture and other sectors agricultural activities and other spheres of the community is very independent thinking, problem- from putting forward young people's of the economy. informal activities such as vending. minimal. solving skills and experimentation. perspectives about policies or Sectors with the highest potential The Zimbabwe 2011 Labour In order to reduce the mismatch And they will require university- actions to be taken. for employment creation are Force and Child Labour Survey between the supply of skills coming industry linkages to achieve these Participation by youth in the targeted first, such as agriculture, (LFCLS) indicate that while the out of our educational institutions necessary reforms. political process is important to mining, forestry, manufacturing, overall unemployment rate for youth and the skills required by employers, Special effort should be made to addressing the high poverty rate that services, and construction among aged 14-34 years is 15 per cent, the it will be necessary to overhaul the achieve gender equality within the disproportionately affects them. others. majority, (87 per cent) of the educational curricula as well as educational system. Government should provide Given the extent of employed youth aged 15-34 years pedagogical methods. There is evidence that educated opportunities for young people to informalisation, there is need to are considered to be in informal The education and training young women are better able to participate at all levels including promote formalisation and transition employment; 9 per cent in formal system in Zimbabwe is largely make decisions that reduce poverty through youth quotas in parliaments, to the mainstream economy. employment and 4 per cent in supply-driven. The curriculum is in their lives and their children. or the active encouragement of To achieve this requires a unclassifiable employment. geared towards academic Government should create enabling young people to stand for comprehensive and integrated One of the major challenges qualifications. The system is environment for promoting female parliament, and the allocation of strategy that eliminates the negative hindering the effective participation wasteful as thousands of students, education through legislative and positions in village councils, local aspects of informality while of the youths in the economy is the under pressure to achieve at least 5 policy reforms; redistributing administrations and working preserving the significant job- dearth of technical and vocational; O' levels repeat examinations, at resources to meet girl's specific committees at the regional level. creation and income-generation business and entrepreneurial skills. high cost to the nation, especially educational needs; reforming To sustainably address the potential of the informal economy. This is in spite of the significant considering that the average pass curricula; providing incentives to challenges posed by un- and under- gains made in the education system rate (achieving at least 5 O' levels) is families to make sending children to employment and widespread since independence. slightly above 20 per cent. Without 5 school a worthwhile proposition; poverty, it is necessary to fully providing school meal programs; integrate the non-formal economy Page 14 The Worker, APRIL 2015 Calculation of damages including the Zim-dollar era (a) giving effect to the fundamental rights he issue of how to convert damages of employees provided for under Part II; suffered under the Zimbabwean amount of damages to be awarded to the instance of the employer. The Labour Act (b) ….[Paragraph repealed by section 3 of Tdollar currency to the United States employee concerned as an alternative to provides that where termination of Act 7 of 2005] currency has been topical since the his reinstatement or employment; employment is at the instance of the (c) providing a legal framework within introduction of the multi-currency in 2009. (ii) in deciding whether to award damages employer, notice pay must be paid. This can which employees and employers can bargain Where an employer has opted not to or reinstatement or employment, onus is on be noted from the proviso to section 12(7) collectively for the improvement of conditions reinstate a dismissed employee, damages in the employer to prove that the employment which provides: of employment; lieu of reinstatement should be paid. relationship is no longer tenable, taking “Provided that where the termination is at (d) the promotion of fair labour standards; As a matter of law, an order for into account the size of the employer, the the initiative of the employer, the employee (e) the promotion of the participation by reinstatement must be coupled with an option preferences of the employee, the situation shall have a right to payment for a period employees in decisions affecting their for the payment of damages in lieu of in the labour market and any other corresponding to the appropriate period of interests in the work place; reinstatement. Where the order does not relevant factors; notice required in terms of subsection (4) or (f) securing the just, effective and provide for the alternative remedy of (iii) should damages be awarded instead of (5).” expeditious resolution of disputes and unfair damages, it would be defective and can be set reinstatement or employment as a result of an An employee who has been dismissed labour practices. aside on that basis. untenable working relationship arising must not sit down and do nothing. He must (2) This Act shall be construed in such That the order of reinstatement should be from unlawful or wrongful dismissal by the mitigate his loss by finding alternative manner as best ensures the attainment of its coupled with an alternative order for the employer, punitive damages may be employment. He must look for any work that purpose referred to in subsection (1). payment of damages can be noted from imposed” he can do so as to mitigate his loss. This can be (3) This Act shall prevail over any other section 89(2)(c)(iii) of the Labour Act which In quantifying the damages, an employee noted from the case of Ambali v Bata 1999(1) enactment inconsistent with it.” provides: is entitled to back pay which is calculated ZLR 374(S). The Supreme Court noted in the Madhater “In the exercise of its functions, the Labour from the date of dismissal or suspension and Issues such as redundancy pay and case that a debt is not wiped out simply Court may— the amount must be determined by the salary severance pay as well as relocation allowance because of a change in currency and equity (a) in the case of an appeal— scales prevailing at the time the employee was are not part of damages in lieu of demands that a formula must be found which (i) conduct a hearing into the matter or supposed to have been paid. reinstatement but are considered as part of a would give effect to the employee's decide it on the record; or An employee is therefore not entitled to retrenchment package. entitlement to payment of, and the employer's (ii) confirm, vary, reverse or set aside the use the current rates. The legal position that An employee who is therefore being paid obligation to pay, the debt in question. decision, order or action that is appealed the back pay is calculated from the date of damages in lieu of reinstatement should not The court went further to note that the against, or dismissal can be expect to get complexity of the exercise to compute the substitute its own decision or order; or noted from the t h e s a m e damages that should be awarded to the (iii) ….[Subparagraph repealed by section cases of Chiriseri benefits as respondent should not be under-estimated and 29 of Act 7 of 2005] and Another v Plan an employee the Labour Court should consider enlisting (iv) …..[Subparagraph repealed by section International who is being the services of an appropriately qualified 29 of Act 7 of 2005] SC56/02 and Kuda retrenched. expert in financial matters, in order to work (b) in the case of an application made in Madyara v Globe The two are out a formula for calculating the damages in terms of subparagraph (i) of subsection (7) of and Phoenix separate and question. Such formula should give fair section ninety-three, remit it to the same or a SC63/02. d i s t i n c t value, in USA dollars, to the damages, different labour officer with instructions Of the damages, procedures. denominated in Zimbabwe dollars that were directing that officer to attempt to resolve it in there is also an T h e awarded. accordance with such guidelines as it may amount which is p r o b l e m What can be noted is that contrary to the specify; paid on the basis of the period that would take with the quantification of damages usually thinking of the majority, damages that span (c) in the case of an application made in the employee to find alternative employment. arises in instances where the damages include over the Zimbabwean dollar period are not terms of subparagraph (ii) of subsection (7) of It seeks to compensate the employee for the the Zimbabwean dollar period. easily ascertained by finding the exchange section ninety-three, premature loss of his employment. That The issue is not as simple as converting the rate which was applicable and then using it to make an order for any of the following or period is not reckoned from the date the order Zimbabwean dollar amount to the United convert the currency. This has the result of any other appropriate order— of reinstatement would have been made but States dollar equivalent as this may result in producing a figure which may over (i) back pay from the time when the dispute from the date that the employee was any amount which overcompensates an compensate an employee or even under or unfair labour practice arose; dismissed. employee or inadequately does so. The compensate him such that the amount paid to (ii) in the case of an unfair labour practice An employee will also be entitled to the amount should have a relationship which is him will have no bearing to the actual loss involving a failure or delay to pay or grant payment of gratuity in the event of there being appropriate and meaningful to the incurred. anything due an agreement to that effect. Gratuity is paid compensation due to the employee. This It is yet to be seen if the Labour Court will to an employee, the payment by the according to the agreement in a particular position can be noted from the case of take heed of the advise by the Supreme Court employer concerned to the employee or sector and it usually provides that an Madhater Mining Company v Tapfuma S-51- to enlist the services of an appropriately someone acting on employee will be paid gratuity upon reaching 14. qualified person to assist with the his behalf of such amount, whether as a a particular number of years with the The Madhater case also stated that the quantification. In the meanwhile, it would be lump sum or by way of instalments, as will, in employer. Labour Court has jurisdiction to apply the prudent for the parties to the dispute to the opinion of the Labour Court, adequately The amount is usually a result of the principles of equity in resolving disputes as endeavour to reach an amicable settlement as compensate the employee for any loss or current salary multiplied by the number of can be noted from section 2A of the Labour the courts may not do much to assist them. prejudice years of service and then multiplied also by a Act. It is only the Labour Court which can B Makururu is a registered legal suffered as a result of the unfair labour particular percentage which is related to the apply the principles of equity and not the practitioner who writes in his personal practice; number of years one would have spent with Supreme Court. The said section provides: capacity. His email address is (iii) reinstatement or employment in a job: the employer. “The purpose of this Act is to advance [email protected] Provided that— Notice pay is also paid on the basis of the social justice and democracy in the (i) any such determination shall specify an fact that termination would have been at the workplace by— Reflecting on the meaning of our Independence Day from page 4 meaning of independence is now all black rule and land, which has and killed countless Zimbabweans has lost the plot. We are resultantly brought more problems than on political grounds has been busy struggling for survival so Unfortunately anyone who lost. solutions to our nation today. Most brought to book. much that we have no time for speaks out about these biting issues The time that Zanu PF began Zimbabweans know that Instead of preaching helpless lies independence commemorations. becomes an enemy of the state. forcing fatigued and frustrated meaningful independence must on this important independence day, This is why most of us will only Independence today somewhat people to attend Independence Day entail the right to vote, act, speak, or Zanu PF leaders should be attend Zanu PF independence means intimidation. Independence commemorations is the time that think democratically. Independence facilitating fair reflections on the gatherings when forced to. Day reminds us of state agents who the day became a Zanu PF event, should include freedom from real meaning of independence, We are still seized with massive threaten opposing voices when when in normal sense it must be a economic misery and dependency. where we are in fulfilling national generational exodus to nearby Zanu PF calls for its ritualistic national event. Zimbabwe is, in that context, interests and what we can do for the countries where our brothers and gatherings. It is not debatable that Our Independence Day has lost currently far from being an best of our country. It seems that sisters grapple with xenophobia on most Zimbabweans are now afraid its original meaning beyond independent country. 'fairness and service delivery' is not a daily basis. Most Zimbabweans of Zanu PF. The old party has made helpless politicking we experience How and why can Zimbabweans part of Zanu PF's national agenda. would not be scavenging for food it known that dissenting voices are on the forced 18 April gatherings. celebrate independence without any We have to introspect on where outside the country if we were truly unwelcome. State security agents Zimbabweans have not yet gained constitutional right? All we are coming from, where we are independent. have terrorized the nation so much what the gallant sons and daughters constitutional rights remain a pipe and where we want to go. The Zanu Independence will get that public silence and submission of the soil sacrificed their lives for. dream for most Zimbabweans PF government wrongly keeps meaningful again when Zanu PF is no longer voluntary but forced. A big number of the filthily rich today. On paper our rights are there peddling blame while ignoring stops closing businesses and This is against democracy, which Zanu PF officials, their families and but practically we do not have. Zanu catastrophic issues of gross forcing people to attend gatherings. our heroes fought for. Zanu PF friends are getting richer at the PF keeps living above the law. This incompetence, hurtful corruption True independence will reign of terror is against expense of the nation, while the is evidenced by freewill torture and and shameful misrule that drags automatically motivate people to independence, which we must poor innocent ordinary citizens are abductions of bold Zimbabweans Zimbabwe from worse to worst freely gather and celebrate its life- celebrate. getting poorer than they were under who speak up against government economic and political points. giving fruits. Any celebration loses its White government before 1980. failures. None of those (even well We have therefore lost the real Feedback, email meaning when forced. Celebration None of Zimbabweans can be known political thugs) who tortured meaning of independence. Zanu PF [email protected] has to be self-motivated. The true fooled that independence means 2015 APRIL, The Worker Page 15 Are we on compass on gender rights

nomira here nyaya iyi discussing giving a shit about them! The shift is so this recurrent issue of women radical. To the radical ones men are Ibashing their husbands. What the merely sperm donors, that's all. heck is going on? Aiwa ndiyo Beijing There has been an emergence of the yacho here iyi? (Is this the Beijing 'new' woman. This 'new' woman is Conference)? aggressive and slowly taking charge. We have heard of reports of women She is economically and emotionally hacking, axing and knifing their independent, empowered, highly husbands to death. Surely is this the educated and sensitive to issues of equality we are fighting for, is it because gender inequality. while campaigning for gender parity, This woman is strong rather a bit too we are sending the wrong messages, or much and makes her own decisions in may be packaging the messages in a life and she is proud. The woman who wrong manner that is confusing our own used to submit to her husband to death is kin, giving them excessive power over slowly fading away. Brace yourself! their spouses? Lately local tabloids are constantly Is this how woman view carrying headlines of stories of woman empowerment in this era? cheating, stealing and even beating their Unfortunately we had gotten used to husbands; issues of woman being physically and Zimbabwean woman living in with emotionally abused, everywhere in the two husbands, streets, kombis, saloons or anywhere Woman kills hubby over phone texts, were more than two woman gathered. It Woman in court for bashing ex- had become the norm really. hubby cop, Women are now perpetrators of abuse Woman beats husband for refusing in domestic disputes. They have moved sex, from one extreme to the other all of a Woman brags in court about beating CRIME OF PASSION- A Chitungwiza man lies slain by a jealous wife sudden. Is it because all the messages of husband and their rights too. Responsible authorities kept quiet. For most Zimbabwean men, gender parity are being misheard? Huh? Woman arrested for assaulting need to take action quickly this is not a each other in all the pillars and struggles the major setback is that when we come Even the rise of single parenting is hubby, light matter. of life. here we find ourselves doing these jobs another cause for concern. Every time I Zimbabwean women amongst The story of the Chitungwiza woman Unpredictably, during the turn of the that we never thought we would do in talk to my learned friends (even married heaviest drinkers, the list goes on and who poisoned and then hacked her century, many men have been found to our lives. ones) you hear, “I don't care about that on. husbands privates and killed him be suffering in silence to the impact of “We leave our careers in Zimbabwe man I can take care of myself and my Where is Zimbabwe going no wonder painfully shook the nation. Women are gender based violence that is being and become nothing. As a result it is kids,” some even opting to have a child the saying goes, 'gone are the days when always known to be nurturing beings exerted and triggered by their wives easy to be easily agitated by small and raising it on their own without women used to cook like their mothers one who would assume and carry all the whom they married. things. You are always on the edge. You support or consent from the father. now their drink like their fathers' burdens of the family. Soft spoken, To many people, domestic violence is are traumatised by your experiences. Women have moved from being I personally won't be surprised in the many women like 'Eve' are supposed to about a husband or male You have to adjust to a new culture that dependant on man to totally NOT near future if men start campaigning for be their husband's best friend and carry partner/boyfriend physically bashing supports women. their wives or girlfriends. “One of my very close friends But a few unfortunate Zimbabwean developed mental illness because he men would tell you otherwise. And couldn't adjust”. more-so they would rather suffer in According to gender expects, many silence than bring shame to themselves. men are suffering in silence because Even Zimbabwean men in the UK are they are afraid to admit and accept that not spared from abuse. Tapiwa the abuses that they are facing are being recounted his domestic abuse ordeal. triggered by their partners. He came to the UK And in their in 2003. In plight to maintain Zimbabwe he used their prestige and to work as a chief ego men desist from executive officer for fighting back their a very big company, abusive partners but his misery and eventually started when he endure the abuses in came to the UK and silence. began to earn a Zimbabwe Men fraction of his wife's as Partners Trust, salary. says that if men are “When I came to being tortured by the UK I endured a lot of domestic their partners they cannot report the abuse from my wife,” he said. cases for fear of being victimized. “If I wasn't strong, we would have ZimMapTrust, Director Mr. James divorced by now, but I humbled myself Mundenda says: “Men who are being and accepted my fate. beaten or verbally abused by their wives “I have been married to her for more hardly talk because of the need to than 25 years. maintain their masculinity especially in “In Zimbabwe I was the bread Zimbabwe's patriarchal society.” winner, I paid all the bills, mortgage, One David Tendai Goto 34, who and school fees, bought all the furniture, works as a clerk argues that the issue of and bought her a car”. gender equality was never practical in “I never asked her for her pay”. our culture. He says it's an issue that was “I considered it as her pocket money”. magnified by the so called 'civic rights “But when I came here, she came merchants' so that they solicit money before me and got into nursing, the from willing donors. tables were tuned and I found myself on He says when the issue of equality the receiving end. I was on her visa. She was introduced it was to correct what was working for an Agency as a nurse the British colonial system did. They and getting paid between £30 and £40 employed men in the industries and the per hour (between US$50 to US$60 per woman was meant to remain at the hour).N I was working as a cleaner in a homestead sometimes at the 'kumusha.' big retail shop, imagine, from being the Now the issue has been stretched CEO of a company that employed more because our own culture does not than 250 people, with my own company discriminate woman. “We value them secretary, to a cleaner! I was getting and treat them well,” he says. pittance compared to my wife, less than He went on to say the topic of gender £8 per hour (US$13 per hour). My wife parity and equality at the workplace is was earning five times my salary!” not about challenging men as these “Our roles were reversed. She was female activists do it is about fair now paying the bills while I bought treatment. food. “She started going out with her It is rather strange to realise some friends, sometimes she would tell me men have a clearer view of what gender that she was going out with friends, but parity really means as opposed to the other times she would just go. woman. The new generation of man that “We started arguing and clashing. is being raised by the single mothers When I objected, she would tell me that have a better appreciation for women if I was the 'man' in the house then I and these are the men that are likely to should pay all the bills. suffer at the hands of the 'new' woman “Apa mari yacho handina!” (I don't because he is soft and compliant. It's a have the money) Worse still I was her vicious cycle indeed. dependent on her visa. She was being influenced by her friends. Eventually I High time coaches and players form a Union Page 16 The Worker, ARPRIL 2015 Dynamos Lack of a big win among Africa’s spoils Zim Cricket finest PREMIERSHIP champions Dynamos are ranked 19th in the top 30 best teams on the continent, according to the Confederation of African Football (Caf). The list released last month shows World Cup campaign that Dynamos, who have won the last four domestic league titles and taken part in the Caf Champions League IMBABWE were three times, have 494 points and are expected to pull off a the only Zimbabwean team amongst Zcouple of upsets but the best in Africa. despite coming close to doing that The Glamour Boys had their most on a few occasions, they couldn't successful CAF under Sunday really deal the coup de grace. Chidzambwa when they reached the They would have been greatly Caf Champions league finals. satisfied with their campaign if they Under Pasuwa, Dynamos failed to had managed to beat a big team but reach the money-spinning group the team threw away important phase of the Champions League and decided not to take part in the 2015 moments, especially against India edition due to financial challenges. and Pakistan. Top of the list are Egyptian giants While against India poor Al Ahly with 2 106 points, followed by catching stood in the way, against Esperance of Tunisia with 1 503 Pakistan, a batting failure meant points. they couldn't even chase down a Democratic Republic of Congo modest 236. (DRC) giants TP Mazembe, who are The defeat against Ireland made home to former FC Platinum striker their outing worse. Losing Brendan Ali Sadiki, are third, while their Taylor to county cricket was counterparts AS Vita are 15th. another pain they had to deal with. South African giants Orlando Zimbabwe's sweated their way Pirates complete the list of teams to a four-wicket win against United from Southern Africa, perched on 22nd place. Arab Emirates, memorable in the According to the list, Tunisia sense that it was their only win in produced the most teams with five, Pool B. while their neighbours Morocco took However, their high point has to second spot with four clubs. be the match against India where Result-wise, they look ordinary but what the results don't tell is that they Esperance are followed by Etoile Brendan Taylor smashed 138 and fought in every game and didn't let their opponents breathe easy Sportive du Sahel (5th) and Club made the Indian bowlers look Sportif Sfaxien (6th) also from ordinary, especially R Ashwin and they gave the Proteas some nervous had touched the rope in the process Allrounder Williams was Tunisia. Ravindra Jadeja who until then had moments. of taking the catch but since another player who staked his claim The top five of Tunisian clubs is bowled beautifully in the But the defeat to Associate team Williams was already back in the for the most- valuable-player completed by Athletic Bizertin who tournament. Ireland later in the tournament was hut, he couldn't be called back. The award, scoring 339 runs at 67.80 occupy the 30th place while Nigeria Zimbabwe eventually lost the definitely their lowest point. match perfectly summed up with the help of four fifties as well and Egypt have three clubs and DRC, game but there is no doubt that they Chasing 332 to win, the Zimbabwe's campaign. as taking eight wickets. Sudan, Mali, Algeria and Ivory Coast have two each. ran India close. The match also was Zimbabweans fell short by five Elton Chigumbura had to pull As one of the most experienced Taylors last match for Zimbabwe runs. out after four matches on account of players in the team, Hamilton Africa's Top 30 African clubs and that made it all the more What added insult to injury was a thigh injury he had picked up Masakadza was always a vital cog memorable. that Sean Williams, who was on against Pakistan, a match where but he had a sub-standard 1. Al-Ahli (EGY) 2 106 Zimbabwe started their course for a ton, rushed back to the Zimbabwe wasted a golden tournament. 2. Esperance Sportive de Tunis (TUN) 1 503 campaign with a 62-run defeat pavilion after getting caught on the opportunity as they, chasing 236 to The 31-year-old started off well 3. TP Mazembe (DRC) 1 353 against South Africa. However, it boundary by John Mooney. win, fell short by 20 runs. with 80 against South Africa but 4. Al Hilal (SUD) 1 152 wasn't a bad outing, considering The TV referral showed Mooney Great results weren't expected of after that waned terribly with scores 5. Etoile du Sahel (TUN) 1 091 Chigumbura's team in light of their of 1, 5, 29, 5 and 15. 6. CS Sfaxien (TUN) 983 resources but they played well and He was also the one who 7. Cotonsport Garoua (CMR) 978 8. Entente Sportive Setif (ALG) 930 showed they weren't there just to dropped Suresh Raina early into his 9. ASEC Mimosas (CIV) 852 make up the numbers. innings and the India's left-hander 10. El Zamalek (EGY) 810 Credit to Chigumbura and went on to score his maiden World 11. Enyimba Aba (NGR) 701 Taylor, who captained in the last Cup ton and spoil Taylor's farewell 12. Stade Malien (MLI) 695 two matches, for keeping up the party. 13. AC Leopard (CGO) 682 14. Djoliba AC (MLI) 629 team's morale in the face of four When all is said and done, 15. AS Vita Club (DRC) 581 successive defeats. Zimbabwe managed to impress on 16. Raja Casablanca (MAR) 574 Taylor had announced going into a few occasions but a big win 17. Al Merreikh (SUD) 531 the tournament that it was the last eluded them. 18. Séwé Sport (CIV) 513 time he will be playing for 19. Dynamos Harare (ZIM) 494 Result-wise, they look ordinary 20. FUS Rabat (MAR) 408 Zimbabwe and he succeeded in but what the results don't tell is that 21. Wydad Casablanca (MAR) 397 leaving his imprint by scoring 433 they fought in every game and 22. Orlando Pirates (RSA) 375 runs at an impressive average of didn't let their opponents breathe 23. Ismaily SC (EGY) 353 72.16. The fact that Virat Kohli, easy. 24. Al Ittihad Tripoli (LBA) 342 25. Heartland FC (NGR) 329 Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina A bit more effort, however, could 26. MAS Fes (MAR) 327 shook Taylor's hand on his way to have made their campaign that 27. Club Africain (TUN) 316 the pavilion manifested how much much better. 28. Kano Pillars FC (NGR) 315 respect he inspired in his By Agencies 29. JS Kabylie (ALG) 311 Zimbabwe’s most valuable player Brenden Talyor opponents. 30. CA Bizerte (TUN) 301 called it quits after the tournament