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Mr Japhet Moyo

Herald Reporter
Preparations for Workers’ Day commemorations on May 1 have now started in earnest with labour unions unveiling programmes for the day. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) will have its main commemorations at Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield, while the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) will converge in Mbare for its Harare celebrations.

The main celebrations will be held in Bulawayo.

ZFTU will hold its commemorations under the theme “Workers united, more informed and ready to embrace Zim-Asset programmes” while the ZCTU’s theme is “Workers under siege: Arise and fight on”.

The United Food and Allied Workers’ Unions of Zimbabwe (UFAWUZ) said it would hold its commemorations in Mbare under the theme “Towards the refoundation of an independent, democratic and united labour movement to fight against the barbarism of neo-liberalism”.

UFAWUZ national organising secretary Mr Richard Gurira said they had invited representatives from several Government departments.

ZFTU and ZCTU will hold other commemorations across the coun- try.

ZCTU secretary-general Mr Japhet Moyo said the theme for this year was appropriate in the wake of company closures which left workers without jobs.

He said the commemorations for this year would focus on issues that affect workers over the period.

“It also comes as business is pushing for amendments to labour laws, where they complain that the laws are skewed in favour of workers,” said Mr Moyo.

He said there would be fewer centres holding the commemorations this year owing to financial constraints.

“We have invited representatives from the Government, civil society and diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe,” he said.

Asked what they were doing about opposition elements who often hijack their events and turn them into political rallies, Mr Moyo said they had discussed the issue as an executive.

“It is something that we have discussed after complaints from some of our constituencies, particularly civil servants, who felt uncomfortable with that. We agreed that union leaders should take control of the event and not political parties. It should be a workers’ event where issues to do with employees take centre stage,” said Mr Moyo.

“It was also agreed that we invite representatives from all political parties.”