A Proud History of Struggle

Trade union rights are human rights. Where there is no democracy there are no human rights. Therefore, the challenge that confronts every unionist is to establish a democratic state so that workers are operating within a democratiSed society, where they are free to express themselves and free to organise themselves. 

Trade Unionists in Zimbabwe are finding that conditions of labour are deteriorating. In 1992,  the government enacted the Labor Relations Amendment Act (LRAA), which created worker committees that unionists saw as diluting union authority. On the other hand, the LRAA did give workers the right to collectively bargain and to organise. Striking was permitted in non-essential services. 

In 2002, the Public Security and Organizations Act (PSOA) was enacted, a law that made it easy for the government to arrest workers. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and other international groups have documented dozens of worker arrests and harassment incidents that have occurred since the law was established.

ZCTU President Lovemore Matombo speaks

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) President, Lovemore Matombo, who has been acknowledged for standing by the Zimbabwe workers by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) shared some of his views and experiences on the challenges facing trade unions in Zimbabwe. He spoke to Jacqueline Mbayiwa from The Worker.

Below are excerpts of the interview.

Asked to describe the struggle for worker’s rights, Mr. Matambo had this to say, “We have been very courageous as Zimbabwe workers in fighting for democratic rights and for enduring under very difficult circumstances. The road has been long and hard especially for the ZCTU leadership. ZCTU workers have been arrested almost every year since 2002 but we have shared unyielding resilience. The government has on occasions interfered directly with the ZCTU in trying to destabilize its operations. 

On 13th of January 2004, I was expelled from my job for attending the organisation of African Trade Union Unity Congress (OATUUC) and up to now l am unemployed. 

In 2005 the government sponsored some rebels within ZCTU who caused some infighting within the Union and divide the congress into two. Over and above that, in 2006 there was the infamous torture that we went through as ZCTU Leadership but despite the pain and agony we maintained our independence and fought for democracy for Zimbabwe workers.

If you remember well in 2008 l was incarcerated together with the Secretary General Wellington Chibebe after May day commemorations.

We however, knew very well that this was the road that we were supposed to walk in as leaders.

How does ZCTU work?

Asked on the constitution-making process, Mr Matombo explained that the position of the ZCTU is drawn from the November 2006 congress resolutions and subsequent general council resolutions of a people driven constitution - a bottom-up process.

He was also asked to give his views on the Government of National Unity (GNU). He said before the formation of the GNU Zimbabwe had been going through an unprecedented economic crisis and workers suffered the most. The formation of the GNU brought with it the stabilisation of the economy and for the first time supermarkets were filled with foodstuffs. That has been positive thing.

However, as time went by the promises and expectations of workers began to fade as the bulk of workers in this country are now earning way below the poverty datum line which stands at USD502.

Civil Liberties in Zimbabwe

“Further, as workers we want to see the restoration civil liberties and see a repeal of the repressive AIPPA and POSA. The labour laws appear to be beautiful in text, 80 percent beautiful. But when you consider Public Order and Security Act which is  used to counter labour laws. You cannot consider the labor laws in isolation of other pieces of legislation, which run against the grain of the labor laws or parallel to the labor laws. Convention 87 of ILO expresses freedom of association and therefore the right to assembly. Convention 98 talks about the size required to organise and collectively bargain.”

But you have a law, Public Ordinance 58, which states that no four people can meet without police clearance. It takes you back: How do you organise a trade union? The trade union is all about numbers. Now, if you are not allowed to congregate without police clearance, how do you organize? Are you allowed to operate freely? The answer is no. And given the political dispensation, where you are viewed or perceived to be pro-opposition, what would be the government's response to your operation? The answer is that you are treated as an extension of the opposition, and therefore the law visits you quite heavily. This is why trade unionists have been in and out of prison on numerous occasions since the law was promulgated in 2002. 

We are now seeing a parliament-driven constitution and not a people-driven constitution. 

We see Members of Parliament buying vehicles from outside the country and not supporting our local manufacturing plant, thereby creating employment outside Zimbabwe.”

Workers' rights needed now

As a parting shot, Mr Matombo chronicled some of the achievements of the current leadership. He mentioned that in 2002 they were able to negotiate poverty matching salaries for workers and in the same year they, together with the government and employees, came up with the Kadoma declaration, a document which identified the causes of the economic crisis at the time, and the document is still relevant now. There is an urgent need to implement the resolutions that are captured in that document.

“We will continue to fight until the day when the laws will be a bit more favorable to the labour movement. Arising from our struggle along with the International Labour Organization to this day, we are glad to say that 80 percent of our demands have been incorporated into our labour law,” he says.

ZCTU, as a congress of trade unions, has managed to withstand pressure from the government together with Zimbabwean workers. This resilience is a part of ZCTU’s legacy.

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