ZCTU silences anti-government union activists

SUSPECTED anti-government activists were gagged from speaking during Workers’ Day commemorations in Harare on Wednesday, NewsDay has established.

There was drama at Gwanzura Stadium, where the commemorations were held, after allies of former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa were banned from addressing workers.

Chamisa ally Gift Siziba was forced to leave with several workers after his frantic efforts to address the workers were thwarted.

Siziba, who was representing Chamisa, walked out when Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leader Florence Taruvinga addressed workers and repeated President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s slogan “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”.

According to leaked audio obtained by NewsDay, speakers at this year’s Workers’ Day celebrations were subject to strict vetting by ZCTU officials, and those perceived as anti-government like Siziba were removed from the list.

In the audio, ZCTU general secretary Japhet Moyo is heard saying that the union would order speakers to sign affidavits stating that they would be responsible for the actions of their supporters who attended the meeting.

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“All those who come to our May Day to give messages of solidarity, there are conditions for this. These are the conditions we share with the authorities,” Moyo said.

It is understood that police had warned against any speech by a political party.

The ZCTU had invited Zanu PF and CCC.

“There are things to do with booing speakers and bad behavior, so we deserve the right to withdraw the right to speak on behalf of those who come to our May Day,” Moyo said.

“The list has about seven topics that we want. “Someone who wants to speak must sign that they will be responsible for their members attending the events.”

Leaked minutes of the May Day organizational meeting seen by NewsDay also show that the ZCTU had placed restrictions on those making speeches during the celebrations.

“At the meeting it was noted that the ZCTU invites different like-minded organizations to the Workers’ Day commemorations,” the minutes read.

“The committee recommends to the General Council the following: That the ZCTU establish conditions when inviting organizations to come to support and also offer solidarity support.

“The ZCTU invitation letter must unequivocally state that the organization reserves the right to allow or prohibit any organization from spreading or delivering messages of solidarity.”

Moyo told NewsDay yesterday that the restrictions were intended to promote a peaceful event.

“We set the conditions to manage our events,” Moyo said.

“We want to give enough opportunities to those who speak about labor issues.

“We don’t want foul language or disturbances at events.

“We want an environment where we speak as one Zimbabwe, without insulting each other.

“We do not restrict freedom, but in the ZCTU we talk about labor issues and poor working conditions, without attacking each other at such a family event.”

CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi, however, said they did not want to hijack the event.

“We had not gone there to make speeches, but to show solidarity with the workers,” Mkwanazi said.

“We have many avenues to send our messages if we want to.”

Siziba claimed that the ZCTU had been hijacked by the state.

“There are fundamental issues around unions, that’s why you see people expressing themselves about the regime’s certain interference with the country’s progressive unions and those are the issues that workers are dealing with,” Siziba said.

“Those who founded the democratic alternative in this country are the workers.

“Those who occupy the State at this moment do not have the mandate of the people, because it is a ‘stolen mandate’ and, therefore, there is no legitimacy and the economy becomes the immediate victim.”

Meanwhile, several organizations have expressed concern that workers around the world will be affected by intensifying climate change.

In its statement for this year’s Workers’ Day, the International Labor Organization said: “As climate change intensifies, workers around the world are at greater risk of exposure to hazards such as excessive heat, ultraviolet radiation, extreme weather events and air pollution. , diseases transmitted by vectors and agrochemicals.”

It further noted that numerous health conditions affecting workers were related to climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, kidney dysfunction and mental health problems.

Legal watchdog Veritas said that, in addition, it is estimated that “more than 870 million agricultural workers would likely be exposed to pesticides, with more than 300,000 deaths attributed annually to pesticide poisoning.”

He said there was a rush to extract the chemicals needed for the transition to green energy, which resulted in the uncontrolled use of chemicals in their extraction, especially in Africa.

“There have also been reports in Zimbabwe of mercury leaks due to its unregulated use, especially in artisanal mining,” Veritas said.

“In light of all this, we urge the Zimbabwe government to ensure that employers comply with laws regulating working conditions, particularly laws requiring the provision of protective clothing; introduce and enforce a minimum wage; create a national health insurance plan that gives all workers access to health services; and reevaluate the use of chemicals in the mining and agricultural sectors, and ban those that are most dangerous to the health of workers.”