Veteran trade unionist and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday said he was not happy to work for a government that does not pay “its patriotic workforce” well.
Tsvangirai was speaking at the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) seventh congress at Elite 400 in Bulawayo.
“I am personally not happy with the state of our economy, especially the failure to create employment. I am a trade unionist to the core and share everyone’s concerns that we have failed to preserve and create jobs. Because of my background as a trade unionist, I am not happy to be part of a government that fails to pay its patriotic workforce,” he said.
Tsvangirai called upon the ZCTU to work hard to secure the people’s democratic aspirations.
“Workers are the only ones who can provide a constant check on the politicians to ensure that we keep to the values of the liberation struggle and our shared struggle for true democracy.
“The national democratic struggle has not ended. I must repeat that the national democratic struggle has not ended. And it will never end.
“The workers should be at the centre of demanding true democracy,” he said.
Tsvangirai also called for unity in the workers’ movement after the court battles that nearly stalled the congress. “There has to be unity. It is the panacea for workers’ progress.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“Despite the discord, you lose nothing by extending your hand to the other colleagues. As having lived under the division in the MDC, nothing beats the need to unify democratic forces,” he said.
Cracks widened within the ZCTU during the week as a faction led by Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary general, Raymond Majongwe filed an urgent High Court application seeking to bar the congress.
The court yesterday morning however gave the labour body the green light to go ahead with the congress as it dismissed the challenge with costs at the highest scale, according to ZCTU secretary-general, Wellington Chibhebhe.
