BY DICKSON CHAERUKA

The Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers Union (ZUCWU) has successfully convened a young workers symposium recently held in Chinhoyi.

A total of 50 delegates,  composed of national young workers elected leaders, young workers branch chairpersons, secretaries’ and treasurers’ drawn from the union’s branches which are urban municipalities across the country, gathered at the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) Hotel where the conference was facilitated on the 9^th of December.

Speaking at the conference, ZUCWU General Secretary, Daniel Usingarawe said the union in the year 2009 was the pioneer in setting up a young workers structure in its effort for a complete solidarity and inclusivity.

He said young workers were a critical structure which essentially serves as the van guard of the union.

‘’One of the critical obligation of the young workers is that they are leaders on their way-in. They are open to take leadership to account and should guard the union’s interests’ jealously,” he said.

The general secretary added that trade union activism has long been faced with economic and workplace challenges some of which were deliberately perpetrated by the employers in a bid to weaken unions.

‘’This conference is therefore  providing a platform for young workers to re-set, strategize and rise up to the challenges for in trade union the only solution is organizing, organizing and organizing.’’

Facilitating at the conference, ZUCWU National Young Workers Secretary, Getrude Sibanda stated that their gathering afforded young workers an opportunity to network and boost the young workers voice.

‘’Unequivocally, we can achieve more in solidarity through our collective voice and strategies. Our coming together is crucial for us to understand where we are going, what needs to be done in order to advance the interests of our constituency.”

Participants were taken through topics which included: History of ZUCWU, Personal Mastery, Leadership Skills, History of Labor Law, Collective Bargaining and Grievance Handling.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Northern Regional Officer, Simon Katsande also facilitated at the conference along with the ZUCWU National Trustee, Polite Sibangani.

Other ZUCWU National Young Workers present were National Chairperson, Kizito Munotsva, Vice Chairperson; Prince Mtare, Vice Secretary; Ralph Mutambisi; Organizing Secretary, Hazvinei Chimunya, and incoming Treasurer;  Mthabisi Tshabalala.

The ZUCWU Deputy General Secretary, Debra Mudyanevana also attended the conference.

ZUCWU is the country’s most representative union in the urban council’s industrial undertaking with a total of 32 branches nationwide.