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ZCTU split reveals weak civil society
The Zimbabwean
June 09, 2012

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/news/zimbabwe/52467/zctu-split-reveals-weak-civil.html

The threatened split of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions last week reinforces the fact that civil society leaders are not ready to give up power when their tenure ends.

This has led to the formation of many splinter organisations, subsequently weakening civil society in the country. The country's workers have been complaining about poor working conditions and low remuneration for the past two years and instead of concentrating on improving the employees' conditions, the union leaders are busy creating their own fiefdoms.

After losing in the ZCTU elections in Bulawayo a fortnight ago, former president Lovemore Matombo and Raymond Majongwe, who contested the general secretary's position, are now bent on leading a splinter faction.

The duo's move has further diluted the labour unions' strength and effectiveness after the formation of the government-backed Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions a few years ago.

Matombo and Majongwe's splinter group comprises 12 unions out of the 33 affiliates that form the ZCTU. They complained that most delegates that attended the congress were not bonafide members of the ZCTU.

Newly elected ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo has labelled the rebel group as divisive and lacking the support of genuine unions affiliated to the mother body.

The 12 rebel unions led by the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe include the Zimbabwe Energy workers' Union, Zimbabwe Construction Workers' Union, Zimbabwe Leather, Shoe and Allied Workers' Union, Civil Service Employees' Association, Zimbabwe Rural District Councils Workers' Union, Zimbabwe Graphical Workers' Union and the National Airways Workers' Union.

The rebel group has been joined by the Medical Professionals and allied Workers' Union, Zimbabwe Scientific and Education Workers' Union, Mining General Workers' Union and the Transport and General Workers' Union.

However, ousted president Lovemore Matombo argued that his faction has 70% support of all trade unions members affiliated to the ZCTU.

"Of the total 36 unions in ZCTU, we control 12," Matombo said, "These unions have about 100 000 members out of the 160 000 within ZCTU," said Matombo.

The splits remain a very sad indictment on the careers of those civil society leaders when they graduate into national politics if they will ever allow to be removed from power once they assume it. This may be the crucial moment for civil society to do soul searching and remain committed to their founding principles to make Zimbabwe a better country.

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