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Zimbabwean women fighting for survival in South Africa
Ntando Ncube, Zimbabwejournalists.com
May 28, 2007

http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=2353&cat=3

JOHANNESBURG - Lillian Sibanda, 31, is a widow of vision, courage and conviction. In 2005 her house was demolished during the government-sponsored controversial and chaotic Operation Murambatsvina.

Her 13-year old daughter, Tariro was left homeless and things were looking ever so gloomy she did not know what to do. Sensing no way out of her misery and poverty, in 2006 she decided to take the bull by the horns and carve out a new future for herself and Tariro.

Armed with a passport without a visa, a Hotel and Catering certificate, and an idea and a passion in her to make things better for her child, she set out to achieve the impossible.

She left Tariro and crossed Limpopo River down to South Africa.

Jozi "the city of all that glitters is not gold" is a city full of opportunities, affliction suffering and agony. Getting there is often a big challenge.

Her final destination at Park Station is a hot spot with marauding police officers, thieves and robbers strong enough to confront even the bravest of foreigners. The wafting noise of "Jozi" to Sibanda was not welcoming - rather it reflects the city's hurried pace of life. Johannesburg was frightening for her and many other women in her boots.

As the social and economic situation in Zimbabwe continues to dwindle, the women of the country have started leaving their homes and children and go off to work domestic jobs in the big cities of South Africa, in the kitchens and homes of more wealthy and even poor South Africans. This meant being away from their homes and families for months on end.

"Now I have more than seven months here. As a mother my heart aches, at times I shed tears. Not being able to watch my child growing or prepare a child as mothers do is a burden that weighs heavily on me and still does," Sibanda said at her work place, Mugg and Bean restaurant at Eastgate Shopping Centre here in South Africa.

She was uncertain; "Ndonokuonayi later.Mugandidzingise basa Murungu wacho anonetsa", she said, meaning "I will see you later. I may get fired if my boss sees me talking to you."

All the waiters and cashiers at the restaurant are Zimbabweans poorly paid with a monthly salary of less than R1 200 with some taking less than less than R700 home at the end of the month.

Workers are being ill-treated and fired from work without pay every month and no-one cares because they are illegal immigrants.

Sibanda decided, given all the oppression of Zimbabweans in the hotel and catering industry here to form a union for Zimbabweans in the industry in South Africa.

"Being a waiter or domestic servant with all its abuse and poor salaries is no longer acceptable," Sibanda said later.

For announcing her intention of forming Zimbabwe Hotel and Catering Workers Union (ZHCWU), workmates and friends thought she had been in the sun too long and was over ambitious. But she was serious. Undaunted by their lack of faith and criticism, Sibanda has gone on to launch ZHCWU. The organisation was officially launched in Johannesburg with more than seventy members officially registered.

On Workers' Day, the union presented a petition to COSATU appealing to the labour body to address the plight of foreigners, especially Zimbabweans employed in the catering industry.

This came shortly after COSATU Secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi attacked industry tycoons for abusing foreigners, especially Zimbabweans and taking the country as a supply of cheap labour. He attacked South Africans for abusing Zimbabweans on the job market.

Vavi was addressing more than 1000 South Africans and Zimbabweans who demonstrated at the Zimbabwe consulate in solidarity with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU). He described his fellow countrymen and women as "a disgrace to the pride of the country".

Said Sibanda: "We are providing the most important everyday labour to this country but no one is concerned with us.in return we are paid money which is tantamount to humiliation, abused and fired because we are foreigners."

"We have formed this union to open negotiations with existing labour unions to investigate and address evils that are unfolding to Zimbabweans who constitute about 85% of workers in this industry."

And what plans are for the future?

The union will join other unions in protesting and demanding the rights of workers in South Africa.

"As a union we are going to work together with other unions to denounce the abuse of workers. We will stop at nothing in demonstrating against the slavery of Zimbabweans in this industry, we demand Zimbabweans in this industry to be regarded as people with rights and responsibilities," said Sibanda.

Hanging on the wall of her room in Bramfontein are two very especial mementos, a trading license to open restaurants and food cafés in Doornfontein, Maraisburg and Florida.

"This union is not only there to fight for the rights of Zimbabweans, but to create sustainable business opportunities for them in the industry. Our biggest challenge as a union was pave way for the women of Zimbabwe to get involved. Now we have secured a license to open restaurants and food cafés in Doornfontein, Maraisburg and Florida. From here I believe our story should be one of success after success, from humble beginnings and poorly paid waiters to owners of legally registered restaurants," she said.

ZHCWU is an inspiration to many Zimbabwean women and as a consequence of its existence other business opportunities for Zimbabweans in South Africa are beginning to emerge. This is Lillian Sibanda's vision.

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