…Says a ’handful individuals, their families and friends are enjoying the ‘fruits of independence’. 

Ngoni Dapira

THE country’s principal trade union federation, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has bemoaned that the status of workers continues to diminish regardless of 43 years of independence under a black led government.

In a statement issued yesterday (Tuesday) by its secretary general Japhet Moyo in solidarity of Zimbabwe’s 43rd Independence Day commemorations, ZCTU said it is unfortunate that 43 years after independence, the elderly workers contemplate of returning to the Southern Rhodesian era citing better remuneration that sustained their family livelihoods as compared to the present-day independent Zimbabwe.

“We mark this day on a sad note as a result of the debilitating economic malaise that has pauperised the working class. The status of a worker has diminished in independent Zimbabwe to the extent that the older generation reminisce with nostalgia and fondness ‘the good old working days under colonialism” when wages had value and they could develop themselves and their families from their earnings unlike today,” said Moyo.

The trade unionist said they appreciate the role played by freedom fighters and the masses to liberate this country from white minority rule but reprimanded the incumbent Zanu-PF led government for negating the founding values and principles of independence that sought to usher a liberalised and empowered population on the basis of equality, freedom and ‘decent’ work.

“The hopes and aspirations that the country envisioned in 1980 have not been met and particularly for workers, we are no longer enjoying the Unity, Freedom and Work,” he said.

Moyo said the standard of living for an ordinary Zimbabwean has degenerated in the past 43 years compared to the pre-independence period citing that working conditions which had greatly improved in the early years of independence have harshly deteriorated.  He said workers are no longer protected by the law as was in the early 1980’s, adding that the laws of the land are now not being fully upheld to protect workers and citizens.

“Workers in the formal and informal sectors are suffering from repressive and capitalistic laws that deter them from fully exercising their rights. From colonial slavery, workers are now in the modern-day slavery, savaged by their own kith and kin who now control the means of production and their foreign investor friends,” read the statement.

He expressed concern over government’s failure to protect its own citizens from exploitation in work places, instead, preferring to focus on stifling the democratic space for trade unions and civic society organisations (CSO’s). Moyo said it is now a crime in independent Zimbabwe to stand up and represent workers but ironically it was workers’ leaders that spearheaded the war of liberation in defiance of the exploitative nature of colonialism.  Moyo also criticized government for failing to respond accordingly to the swelling challenges of unemployment and underemployment in the country.

“The struggle for independence was waged to free and afford equal opportunities to all Zimbabweans but that remains a pipe dream for the majority… Wages and salaries have been eroded, monetary policy changes have impoverished workers and slave wages are the order of the day.”

Adding, “Retrenchments, the firing and suspension of workers and trade union leaders exercising their rights is also a mockery to our independence and freedom.  Harassment of workers in the informal economy by the police and local authorities using colonial laws remains a mystery.”

Moyo said ‘ordinary’ Zimbabweans are now in a war against poverty in the midst of plentiful resources under the control of a priviledged few, adding that the handful individuals, their families and friends are enjoying the ‘fruits of independence’.

“The few elite minority that replaced the Rhodesians have captured the state and are plundering the nation through corruption. We mark this day as the nation is gripped with shocking revelations from the Gold Mafia documentary exposure detailing how the Gold Mafia has been plundering our gold with the blessings of the highest office,” he said, referring to the trending Al-Jazeera four part investigative documentary on corruption and gold smuggling in Zimbabwe that ran from 23 March with the final episode broadcasted on 13 April.

He said the once Jewel of Africa is now a pale shadow of its former self, but urged the political leadership to introspect and re-rail its priorities towards ‘Gutsaruzhinji’ as the country celebrates 43 years of independence. Moyo added that corruption, nepotism and plunder are not the values fought for by the multitude of freedom fighters that died to ensure an independent Zimbabwe.

The trade union however reassured Zimbabweans that it would continue to utilise the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) to push workers’ issues but would also remain cognisant of the importance of the ‘power of workers’ unity’.

“Demonstrations and mass actions shall always be an option until workers are fully independent just like our predecessors like Joshua Nkomo, Ndabaningi Sithole, George Nyandoro, Michael Mawema and Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo among others,” read the statement.

This year’s national commemorations were held at Mt Darwin High School Grounds in Mashonaland Central. The celebrations were running under the theme,” Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.” This was the first national independence celebration to be held in a rural province. Provincial and district celebrations ran concurrently countrywide.