Efforts to unify the two factions of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) failed over the weekend, amid reports that a South African mediator who was in the country had failed to break the impasse.
The two factions, one led by Lovemore Matombo and another by George Nkiwane, emerged after the labour body’s disputed elections last year.
Raymond Majongwe, secretary general of the Matombo-led faction, said the efforts did not succeed, owing to what he called constant unwarranted “attacks” by the rival faction.
“Yes, there are efforts to reunite and try to join the two factions, which we believe is the way to go,” said Majongwe.
“Someone from South Africa is here to mediate and we think this will go well. However, we have since pulled out of the negotiations because we feel we cannot be negotiating with people who are attacking us.”
He said some of their members had been evicted from offices in Masvingo.
“The offices have been closed for the past nine days. All these guys want is to provoke us into violence but we will not. We have been in that office for the past four years, we benefitted from donor funds and we should be entitled to that building,” Majongwe said.
But, Japhet Moyo, secretary general of the Nkiwane-led faction said he was not aware of the efforts.
