BY OWM CORRESPONDENT 

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has slammed corrupt cartels for fueling workers hardships amid calls for the enactment of pro-poor policies.

Zvigananda is a term used in Zimbabwean political discourse to describe a small group of politically connected individuals who accumulate substantial wealth through corrupt practices and state patronage. The term was notably employed by Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to highlight the economic disparity between these elites and the ordinary folk.

Addressing workers recently,  ZCTU President Florence Taruvinga blamed cartels seated in the fuel value chain for worsening petrol prices through shady deals.

“Why do we have middlemen in the oil industry when we have NOCZIM which can do the job at a lower cost. Our fuel prices are amongst the most expensive in Africa, the reason being multiple taxes and cartels holding the industry at ransom?”

She questioned the rationale behind blending of Petrol when the net effect has resulted in higher Petrol prices amid calls to address the root cause.

“The government needs to introspect on these and other issues directly prejudicing the poor and the majority. Our clarion call to government is SERVE and SAVE the people not to serve and save ZVIGANANDA,” she said.

Taruvinga said despite having gone for just five months into 2026, the year is already characterised by worthless wages often paid in local currency despite the fact that the economy has highly dollarized.

She said the current gazetted minimum wage of US$150-00 per month is a mockery confirming the government’s failure to pay "Living Wages” in a development which militates against effective collective bargaining as the private sector flows with the government rates and figures particularly with the minimum wage.

“We are in a crisis, healthcare is collapsing, health workers recently downed tools demanding improved salaries and working conditions. Many public hospitals are operating at minimal capacity with critical shortages of basic medicines and functional equipment,” added Taruvinga.