Back to Index

ZCTU reiterate stance on the Tripartite Negotiating Forum(TNF)
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
May 10, 2004

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is surprised by the statement attributed to the Minister of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare, Paul Mangwana in the Sunday Mail, 9 May 2004 that the ZCTU pulled out of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) 'for selfish reasons best known to themselves'.

It is very disappointing to note that the Minister is not aware or deliberately chooses to ignore the reasons why the ZCTU had to pull out of the TNF. Time and again, the ZCTU has clarified the reasons for withdrawal and would not hesitate to reiterate that it was government's attitude of negotiating in bad faith that led to the break up of the TNF

The ZCTU was aggrieved by government's tendency to unilaterally announce issues to the press and go on to claim that these issues were agreed to at the TNF before negotiations were concluded. It should be noted that the TNF is a negotiating forum where issues are looked at and mutual agreements are arrived at and not a Forum where government invites other stakeholders to inform them of decisions it would have already taken.

The ZCTU had even voiced its concerns about unilateral decision making by government on behalf of the forum. It is even recorded in the minutes of the TNF meeting held at the NSSA boardroom on 7 March 2003, where ZCTU emphasised that there is need to subordinate sectoral interests for the national good. ZCTU also pointed out that it was concerned by announcements from various quarters of government about the TNF proceedings including using provocative statements.

Of particular concern was the issue of the price of fuel. Government raised the prices of fuel twice in February and April 2003, a decision, which made the ZCTU realise that the government was not concerned about the views of other members of the forum and were using the TNF card to pretend as if they are committed to dialogue as a way of courting the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

It is such careless statements by the Minister that shows a combative attitude by government in its attempt to make the ZCTU look like it is not committed to the TNF. It seems government needs a lot of education on tripartism and they will get the chance in July 2004 at the National Symposium which is being organised by the ILO. The purpose of the symposium is to educate social partners particularly other government economic Ministries on the importance and rules of the game.

The ZCTU reiterates that it has always been committed to genuine tripartite dialogue and will only go back if and when government commits itself to:

• Stop persecuting the ZCTU
• Accept the basic principles of tripartism as guided by the ILO standards and improve their human and trade union rights record.
  

Wellington Chibebe
Secretary General

Visit the ZCTU fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP