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ZCTU petitions Zesa, council

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OVER 200 ZCTU members in Bulawayo on Monday signed a petition against service providers accusing them of violating residents’ rights through provision of shoddy service.

OVER 200 members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) in Bulawayo on Monday signed a petition against service providers accusing them of violating residents’ rights through provision of shoddy service.

STAFF REPORTER

The petition, which coincided with commemorations of the International Human Rights Day, cited Bulawayo City Council and Zesa as the main culprits. Speaking during the commemorations, ZCTU western region chairman Reason Ngwenya said the labour body was worried about the deterioration of service delivery standards.

“We are saying human rights have been violated through the increasing water-shedding and worse through the water-disconnections over unpaid debts,” he said.

“Water is a human right and we say ‘No’ to water disconnections. “We are also saying Zesa has been resorting to unclear astronomical billings at the same time disconnecting power to the people. We are saying that must stop.”

In a speech read on his behalf, ZCTU president George Nkiwane said Zimbabwe remained the worst violator of human and trade union rights.

“Often, we say trade union rights are also human rights, but workers continue being harassed, intimidated and dismissed at the workplace,” he said.

“We join hands with other progressive civic society organisations and continue calling for the observance of freedom of expression and association rights.” The commemorations were marked by a march that started at the ZCTU offices in the city centre. During the march police pounced on the group and arrested ZCTU western region officer Percy Mcijo and vice-chairman Ambrose Sibindi, accusing them of conducting the march without police escort.

Mcijo confirmed the incident, but said they were later released without charges.