By Own Correspondent

ZIMBABWE Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president, Florence Taruvinga recently told government representatives that they had simply replaced the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) to the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA) in what she described as a revelation of half –hearted commitment to repeal repressive laws.

She made the remarks at a workshop held in Mutare graced by representatives from the government, Labour and Public Service Ministry alongside other business representatives.  

The Public Order and Security Act (POSA) was notoriously applied by the law enforcement agencies during the late President Robert Mugabe’s tenure to thwart dissent and block the convening of any public gathering if deemed to pose the potential to disturb public order.

However, the definition of public disorder remained the preserve of authorities, prompting labour to criticise the legislative piece as a tool being abused to silence dissent.

With the coming on board of the second republic under the stewardship of President Emmerson Mnangagwa a commitment to repeal and reform the POSA was made.  

But addressing the high level workshop, Taruvinga told delegates that the reform process which also came after interventions by the International Labour Organisation high level delegation, and in the process birthed the current MOPA is tantamount to just a rebranding exercise.

“The Government responded by enacting the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act (MOPA). Regrettably from the Labour point of view, we believe the government simply changed the name from POSA to MOPA. Prove us wrong at this workshop because we believe that all the provisions of POSA are still in MOPA.

“What worries labour most is what we see as deliberate ignoring of what the law says for instance on the contentious issue of Public Gatherings. Even POSA exempted trade unions from seeking permission for public gathering,” she said.

She bemoaned that the notorious section is still there in MOPA Section 5, 6, 7 and 8  which says do not apply for gathering “held by a registered trade union for bona fide trade union purposes for the conduct of business in accordance with the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01]

“But we have seen the law enforcement agencies completely ignoring this provision. I also note that the Ministry of Labour has tried to implement the ILO recommendation on the training of security forces on freedom of association, civil liberties, and human rights.

“I remember there were workshops that took place. But it looks like the impact of those training is yet to be felt,” she added.