The once memorable Workers’ Day has been reduced to merely a day off work, as workers nowadays find it difficult to make ends meet, and at the same time face the oppressive rule of President Robert Mugabe.

Demonstrators At The May Day March Organized By The Zimbabwe Congress Of Trade Union (ZCTU)

This year’s celebrations were overshadowed by the presidential election results. Generally, across the country, people were anticipating the announcement of the March 29 ballot, and the political violence taking place ahead of the presidential election run-off.

In a statement to commemorate Workers’ Day, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions said it notes with concern the upsurge in political violence in the aftermath of the March 29 elections especially in rural areas where thousands of people have fled their homes.

“Urban dwellers have also not been spared as gratuitous assaults are the order of the day in the high density areas. This is the price that Zimbabweans are now paying for voting overwhelmingly for the opposition both in the rural and urban areas.”

“The ZCTU deplores this backlash from ZANU PF agents as it is uncalled for. More worrying is the fact that the ruling party leadership is quiet about the violence they are unleashing on innocent citizens with the police pretending that nothing of that sort is happening. The levels of paranoia that are being shown by ZANU PF, the army and the police are very alarming,” said ZCTU.

The pro-ZANU PF workers union, the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU), headed by war veteran Joseph Chinotimba also held its own celebrations. The organization strongly commended Mugabe and his government for what they are currently doing for Zimbabweans.

ZCTU emphasized it is senseless that violence is being unleashed on innocent people. The organization believes this kind of retaliation is a result of one thing, that ZANU PF dismally lost the election because why else would they be torturing innocent people?

“We also note with concern that the rural populace who bore the brunt of the liberation struggle where some lost their entire belongings are the same people now being exposed to the same brutality which is reminiscent of the colonial era.”

“The ZCTU therefore demands that ZANU PF stops the violence forthwith as Zimbabweans will be forced to retaliate and this would spell doom for the country. The organisation would like to urge those who have been brutalized to remain strong and resolute and not be apologetic for voting for the party of their choice,” added the organization.

The March 29 presidential election results were released on Thursday last week- a month after the ballot was conducted. Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC won 47, 9 percent, Mugabe got 43, 2 percent. Since no-one got an absolute majority- more than 50 percent, the country is now waiting for a date for the run-off election.

“The commemorations come against a background of a multi-faceted crisis which has condemned Zimbabwe into a failed state. It is poignant to note that 80 percent of the working population is now informally employed due to the Government’s inability to offer formal employment. Mugabe’s failed fiscal and monetary policies have resulted in the death of our once vibrant and robust industry and economy, aggravating the plight of the workers. The majority of the workers are living far below the poverty datum line as their so-called “take home salaries” are failing to take them home because of the high cost of living bedeviling the nation.”

“The labour movement has played a critical role in the trajectory Zimbabwe has embarked on since independence. The struggle against the one party state was spearheaded by the labour movement in joint forces with the student’s movement. Equally, the anti-ESAP struggles were fought by a united front of the labour and students movement. More importantly, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions played the central role in the formation of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) and the vibrant Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the democratic alternative to the Mugabe dictatorship,” said ZINASU in a statement.

Despite constant wanton and vicious attacks on its leaders the ZCTU has remained resolute, focused and determined in the pursuit of democracy and workers’ rights.

ZINASU adds it stands shoulder with ZCTU and its leadership in the struggle for the emancipation of the workers and the people of Zimbabwe. It has been a bitter and protracted struggle. Many have lost their lives; many others have been permanently paralyzed at the hands of Mugabe’s despotic regime.

---

Share This Story On:

Average user rating