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Response to Dr Gideon Gono’s statement on the TNF
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
December 13, 2004

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is disturbed by comments made by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, Dr Gideon Gono following the ZCTU’s decision to participate in the Tripartite Negotiating Forum.

It is totally unacceptable for the RBZ governor to set the agenda for the TNF because he is not its spokesman. We must point out that the ZCTU has never been "backward looking" and this is evidenced by our initiation of the Social Contract, an idea which we proposed way back before Dr Gono assumed his present duties.

For the record, the ZCTU pulled out of the TNF because of the non adherence of the government to the Kadoma Declaration; the arrests and harassment of the ZCTU leadership by state agents and also that the government reneged on our agreement not to effect any price increases without consultation. Why does Dr Gono not implore the government to honour its obligations under the TNF?

It is also totally misleading for Dr Gono to suggest that only wage increases fuel inflation. The ZCTU can only restrain on its demand for higher wages if and when workers start earning wages that match the Poverty Datum Line (PDL). For Dr Gono to suggest that we should not demand a living wage when the Poverty Datum Line is over $1 500 000 per month is hypocrisy at its highest order. It is our understanding that Dr Gono, when he started work at the RBZ, reviewed salaries of the bank’s workers. Would he have been happy with workers who earn less than the PDL?

Dr Gono should also ask the oil merchants to restrain on fuel increases that have a knock on effect and causes the daily increases in prices of commodities. These are the major contributors to inflation. In fact for the workers the talk of reduction of inflation figures is empty as long as prices increase on a daily basis. The ZCTU will continue to advocate for quarterly increases in wages as long as workers’ wages fall below the PDL.

The Reserve Bank Governor should avoid falling into the category of "Jack of all Trades" and he should stop his "I know all" attitude.

W. Chibebe
Secretary General

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