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Government
invites ZCTU, ZFTU to ILO conference
Daily
News
May 17, 2002
The government has created
a potentially explosive situation by inviting two labour umbrella
bodies to accompany its delegation to the International Labour Organisation’s
(ILO) annual conference in Geneva next month.
In the past it has invited
only the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) to represent the
workers, and the Zimbabwe Confederation of Employers (ECZ),
the employers.
This time, for the ILO conference
from 2-20 June, the government has invited its own creation, the
Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU), one of whose top officials
is the high-profile war veterans leader and chief of municipal police,
Joseph Chinotimba.
Wellington Chibhebhe, the
ZCTU secretary-general, said yesterday the ZCTU had asked ministry
officials why the ZFTU was invited. He said:
"They said it was a
policy decision that would be best answered by the minister. This
is all part of the continuing onslaught on the ZCTU and the government’s
affinity for the ZFTU. They are trying to frustrate us. Remember,
during the presidential election campaign there were threats to
deregister the ZCTU."
At the height of the campaign
for the 9-11 March presidential election, President Mugabe warned
the government would deregister the ZCTU, alleging it was supporting
the MDC.
Traditionally, the Ministry
of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has invited to the
conference only the ZCTU, as the officially recognised umbrella
labour body, and the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe.
According to the ILO constitution,
member countries’ delegations to the general conference must include
four representatives, two of whom must be from the government and
one each from employers and labour.
Two advisers are allowed for
each item on the agenda. Chibhebhe said the ZCTU had told the government
of its concerns but not received a reply. Neither July Moyo, the
Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, nor his permanent
secretary, Lancester Museka, were available for comment on the ZFTU
issue yesterday.
The president of the ZFTU,
Alfred Makwarimba could not be reached for comment either.
Chibhebhe said:
"As far as we are concerned
there is no problem. The ILO recognises us as the representative
labour body in Zimbabwe."
The ILO director in Zimbabwe,
Ullrich Flechsenhar, could not comment as he was said to be out
of the country.
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