The R5.00 Voice of the Labour Movement Established 1988 Issue No: 206 JULY, 2013 Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper ZTWU, NUCI 2 WORKERS WARRIORS IN MERGER GET $19 000 FOR DRIVE DAMAGES COSAFA Page 3 Page 8 Page 16 Labour activists to contest in harmornised elections BY STAFF REPORTER people in her ward. respectively. EVERAL labour activists “I promise to work towards the ZCTU President George will be standing in the development both at council and at Nkiwane in his May Day speech forthcoming harmonised ward level prioritising extending said labour leaders and activists S opportunities to locals. I will also elections in various capacities cannot be stopped from after sailing through the selection defend labour rights since I am participating in political activities processes. from the labour movement because or contesting for political The successful labour backed once a worker always a worker. I positions. candidates include the Federation will not detach myself from the As the working class and of Food and Allied Workers Unions electorate like what other elected conscious of our interests, it is time of Zimbabwe (FFAWUZ) general people usually do. We are now in a we start to make things happen in secretary and ZCTU Second different political environment our favour. No passenger will want deputy secretary general Unganai where elected office bearers need to board a bus whose destination Dickson Tarusenga who will be to keep contact with their and departure time is not known, all contesting the Zengeza electorate. Being a councillor would want to get into a moving Constituency seat. entails being a person on the bus. Let`s move with our agenda Tarusenga said he is geared for ground, listening and attending to and politicians will come rushing the political career. community needs on a daily basis if to us like European investors to Tarusenga said those who will you are to remain relevant,” she India and China because that is be elected into positions from the said adding that she said she was where development is taking place. labour structures to parliament or prepared for the challenges ahead. We should be active and to local government portfolios The Acting President of the participating citizens as opposed to should not just go to add numbers. Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal being subjects. We can no longer “We should be there to deliver in Economies Associatiion Lucia escape or abdicate our whatever capacity. There should be Masekesa is also contesting for the responsibility, let us get Zimbabwe a link between the unions and the Masvingo senatorial seat on an working again and yes we should, individuals so that labour issues MDC-T ticket. everyone should account for their would be articulated well. If that Masekesa said she is prepared action or lack of it. Similarly so link fails to materialise then the for the election and to serve the time has come for politicians at labour backed individuals fail. people in that capacity. whatever level of leadership to There is need for constant 'It is good that we (from the account for their actions. When appraisals because situations labour movement) are graduating electing your councillors, members change and one would need to be into political careers in various of parliament, senators and your updated with the relevant capacities. We will always defend future President, apply your minds. information all the time,” he said. and push for workers rights. I There are those who will come to Katumba Miriam the ZCTU personally will work with all you with bags full of money, our Women Advisory Council political structures and individuals advice is take the money chop or UNGANAI DICKSON TARUSENGA Chairperson will also be contesting towards development,” she said. chew it ut vote wisely. Elect people ZCTU central region paralegal who are prepared to be your for the councillor's position Ward party. Other labour functionaries ministers Paurina Mpariwa and officer Charles Chikozho and WAC servants not masters,” he said. 23, Chitungwiza, who graduated into politics include Lucia Matibenga and several vice secretary Nyasha Benza will The ZCTU formed the MDC She said she will work towards Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai members of parliament. development together with the be contesting for local government and continues to feed cadres to the positions in Gweru and Redcliff and his deputy Thokozani Khupe, Page 2 The Worker, JULY 2013 High level ILO delegation descends on Zimbabwe Christopher Mahove country's police and security forces government to ban trade union She noted that the government high level technical the ZCTU and implement the should conduct themselves activities was a violation of Article had shown its commitment by assistance mission from recommendations. professionally in the discharge of 3 of the Freedom of Association appointing eminent persons in the the International Labour In her response directed to the A their duties, adding the application and Protection of the Right to ILO Director General, Juan organ, who included the late Vice Organization, ILO, is expected to of laws such as POSA should be Organize Convention. President John Nkomo, a former visit the country soon to assess Somavia, Minister of Labour and reviewed in practice. Several trade union leaders and ILO Governing Body member, the the obstacles to the rapid Social Services, Paurina POSA, the committee noted, activists were brutally attacked by late Gibson Sibanda, ZCTU former implementation of the ILO Mupariwa, acknowledged receipt should be used in conformity with the police in 2006 and many of president and also former ILO Commission of Inquiry of the ILO commission report and Convention 87, while the security them were left with life long governing body member and recommendations. said the recommendations were sector needed to be continuously injuries. Human rights activist, Sekai The world's umbrella labour already part of the reform work by trained on trade and human rights The ILO then set up the Holland. body has since called on the government. issues. commission of Inquiry in terms of However, the inclusive government of Zimbabwe to accept "It is in this context that "The committee requested the Article 26, paragraph 4 of the ILO government, whose life ended on the mission, which is expected to government will implement the government to ensure the continued Constitution to look into cases of June 29, failed to fully implement compile a detailed report from the recommendations. It should be training of the police and security non- compliance with ILO the various institutional and government, which would be noted that the inclusive forces with a view to ensuring the Conventions 87 and 98. legislative reforms aimed at transmitted to the Committee of government has established the full respect of human and trade After the ILO Commission of improving the governance of the Experts for its next meeting Organ for National Healing, union rights, take steps for the Inquiry into worker rights abuses labour market, including the expected later this year. Reconciliation and Integration elaboration and promulgation of visited the country and made its harmonization of the Labour Act. The Commission of Inquiry, charged with the responsibility to clear lines of conduct for the police recommendations, the which visited the country in 2009 foster unity of purpose among the and security forces and ensure that Government of Zimbabwe after the ZCTU raised concerns people of Zimbabwe," she wrote POSA is applied in a manner that is committed to work together with then. over the government's abuse of in conformity with the Convention" trade union rights following a read part of the report. series of violent attacks on trade The committee called on the union leaders by the police and government to provide resources ZESSCWU seeks $75 000 for congress security agents, recommended that needed to operationalise the Harare should stop trade union Human Rights Commission, which By Christopher Mahove posts will be available for grabs save for those abuses and uphold the rule of law. has been idle since its appointment. To achieve this, the Zimbabwe he Zimbabwe Social, Scientific and Cultural that are of an appointment nature. In 2009, the ZCTU lodged a Mutindindi said the union was working flat out government was urged to align its formal complaint with the Workers Union (ZESSCWU) requires at least $75 laws with Convention 87 on the International Labour Organisation 000 to hold its elective congress scheduled for to ensure that employers in the sectors paid their Freedom of Association and T workers their back pays dating back to 2009 so that (ILO) over the continued October. Protection of the Right to Organize. interference in trade union business General Secretary, Mtutindindi, said although the they can be able to pay their subscriptions and However, in its recent meeting by the government of Zimbabwe. in Geneva, Switzerland, the union was facing financial constraints, the congress had enable the union to raise the required money. The representation, made in "We are currently working to ensure that our International Labour Conference terms of Article 24 of the ILO to be held this year without fail. on the Application of Standards Constitution, was made after the "The dates have been tentatively set for October members are paid their salary arrears dating back noted that the government had not government had seriously violated and we have a committee that is working on the to 2009 and that employers pay salaries fixed in the implemented many of the the ILO Convention 87 of 1948 on logistics. We are still looking for the resources and so Collective Bargaining Agreement. recommendations. the Freedom of Association and far we have raised $45 000 that we have set aside. "The under-payment of our members by In its report, the Committee said Protection of the Rights to employers means that we won't get any the country's laws should guarantee Organise.