ZCTU blasts Mthuli Ncube for lack of consultation

By Admore MARAMBANYIKA

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has blasted Finance Minister Prof Mthuli Ncube for failing to consult key stakeholders before policy formulation at a Tripartite Negotiating Forum strategic planning workshop underway in Victoria Falls.

In her keynote address to the forum, ZCTU president Florence Taruvinga called out on Ncube for his lack of regard for other stakeholders which has led him to come up with policies that have hurt the ordinary person.

The ZCTU leader said; since taking over the Treasury in 2018, Ncube’s key announcements have been followed by widespread outcries often forcing other key arms of the government to intervene and pacify the situation.

 “I challenge the Minister of Finance to consult workers when coming up with policy instead of the current situation where the country is being run by inconsistent and contradictory Statutory Instruments,” she said.

She implored on government to mainstream the TNF Founding principles like the Kadoma Declaration, Prices and Incomes Stabilisation Protocol, the Protocol on Mobilisation, Pricing and Management of Foreign Currency and the TNF Act in its planning.

“All these documents and others not mentioned should be linked to our key national developmental policy frameworks such as the National Development Strategy (NDS1) and other strategies. As such, we hope that the mid-term review of NDS1 will be discussed under the auspices of the TNF as a basis for fine-tuning its implementation for the remainder of its tenure up to the end of 2025,” said Taruvinga.

The ZCTU also blasted Ncube’s 2024 national budget describing it as a ‘tax burden and anti-people’ owing to its punitive taxes and low allocations towards social security.

The ZCTU is pushing the TNF to come up with modalities that ensure better remuneration for workers.

“We are therefore calling for constructive negotiations to improve the lives of workers and their families, this platform has a potential to resolve important economic and social issues. This platform is there to encourage good governance, advance social, industrial peace, stability and boost economic progress. For us in the labour movement, the benefits of social dialogue are immense. Structural improvements of working conditions can be achieved. For example, by abolishing wage disparities based on sex, within the companies, sectors or even in the whole country. Another example is the introduction of a minimum wage which we have long desired as labour given the unequal dynamics that exist between labour and capital,” said Taruvinga.

ZCTU said it was crucial that government expedites the finalisation of the Occupational Safety and Health bill, which should also cover not only Private sector employees, but include public sector workers.

The forum is being attended by local regional and international stakeholders including Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ), ZCTU, Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions, the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions, Southern African Trade Union Coordination Council, Economic and Social Council of Greece and the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS), Economic and Social Council of Greece and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), ILO and Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU).

TNF chairperson, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo, said tripartism would help social partners drive in the same direction with one vision of unity and implored ILO to work with Government.

“The ILO in Zimbabwe is strengthening tripartism, at least that is our expectation. So we welcome you, we can collectively work,” he said.

ILO director of country office for Zimbabwe and Namibia Philile Masuku said it was vital for social partners to strengthen social dialogue and effective tripartism.