HS Alliance
ZANU-PF and MDC-T have set themselves the goal of taking control of the fireworkers group, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) at its elective congress scheduled for Friday, NewZimbabwe.com has learned.
For more than three decades, the union, once led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai as general secretary, has been a thorn in the flesh of the ruling Zanu PF party.
However, reports indicate that Zanu PF, through a close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Sakunda Holdings of Kudakwashe Tagwirei, has paid $ 30 million for delegates attending the already tense congress to be held in Harare.
Zanu PF and the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora both endorsed the presidential candidacy of the leader of the National Union of Energy Workers (NEWUZ) and outgoing second secretary general of the ZCTU, Thomas Masvingwe, who chaired the controversial congress. of the MDC-T in December which elected Mwonzora president.
Through NEWUZ, Masvingwe maintains a close relationship with Sakunda, an affiliate member of the Energy Workers Union.
Masvingwe wants to oust the current president of the ZCTU, Peter Mutasa.
Mutasa is a vocal critic of the Zanu PF government and his proximity to Nelson Chamisa and the opposition MDC Alliance has destabilized the Mnangagwa administration.
The president of the ZCTU, General Secretary of Labor Japhet Moyo and other senior union leaders have been arrested in recent years and remanded in custody for organizing anti-government protests.
In a related development, Runesu Chipamaunga, the Secretary General of the Railway Engineers Union (REU) is said to be part of the Masvingwe faction and has been promised the post of ZCTU’s second vice president.
“This is a clear case of the theft of the MDC Alliance base and its handing over to Mwonzora which is supported by Zanu PF, the real unions must stop this,” said a source, who wished. remain anonymous.
“It is obvious that Masvingwe will try to sever relations between the MDC Alliance and establish new links with the MDC-T, whose congress he proudly chaired last year.
“It is also worrying that Zanu PF mainstays like Marvelous Tawomera have taken over the youth sector and are already seeking high-level positions.
“We know the $ 30 million and $ 30,000 given to everyone who votes for Florence Taruvinga and Masvingwe.”
Taruvinga is reportedly considering a position in the new executive while Tawomera is a known member of Zanu PF who campaigned for the ruling party in 2013 and 2018.
The ZCTU gave birth to the main opposition group, the MDC, in 1999.
Other prominent trade unionists who formed the MDC with Tsvangirai in 1999 are; the late Gibson Sibanda, current MDC-T Vice-President Thokozani Khupe, the late Getrude Mtombeni, the late Isaac Matongo, Gift Chimanikire, senior MDC-T official, and Lucia Matibenga.
NewZimbabwe.com’s efforts to elicit comments from Tagwerei, Masvingwe and other running candidates failed.
The elective congress of the ZCTU is held under the theme; “We are at a crossroads! Let us unite, fight neoliberalism, repression and austerity”.