By Dickson Chaeruka

The Energy Sector Workers Union of Zimbabwe (ESWUZ) has successfully held its first Women Advisory Council (WAC) elective conference as the union gears up preparations for its second national elective main congress to be conducted at a date and month yet to be announced, The Worker can report.

A total of 23 women delegates of the union drawn nationwide convened at Eden Lodges situated in the resort area of Vumba on the 2^nd of April for the conference.

In his official opening statement, ESWUZ President, Admire Mudzonga said the women elective conference was aimed at constitutionally coming up with a women representative committee to advance women’s interests both at the workplace and in the union.

‘’Our constitution stipulates that the Chairperson of the committee would automatically be added into the management committee of the union. The women’s committee shall be amongst other responsibilities work to fight against all forms of abuse of women which is rife in the energy sector. We have confidence in women because they have proved to be good leaders even beyond the trade union discourse,’’ he said adding that his union boasts of more female office bearers in its apex  national executive structure more than any other in the country.

Participants were taken through a comprehensive induction exercise led by the dual Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) educators; Tecla Masamba and Dallas Nyandoro as well as a Risk Management Consultant engaged from Art Regie International Risk Advisory:  Regina Muchinguri.   

As a pre-election activity, delegates were capacitated on fundamental topics which included; trade union organization and participation, personal mastery and leadership, risk management, GBV and women’s challenges during a crisis as well as gender integration & women’s rights.

ZCTU’s WAC Secretary; Clara Vera from ZIMRATU took to the podium assuming her task for the day as a retaining officer and the expectant but anxious delegates burst into songs, ululations and dances as they welcomed the much anticipated defining hour of the conference.

The first and tightly contested post of the chairperson by three nominees; Precious Chisi, Clotida Rukatsa and Flora Mandiopera ended in a deadlock after Precious  Chisi and Clotida Rukatsa shared 8 votes respectively whilst Flora  Mandiopera garnered 7 votes, resulting in the retaining officer ordering a rerun between the top two.

A rerun of the voting process finally broke the impasse after Precious Chisi trounced Clotida Rukatsa by 13 to 8 votes.

On the Vice-Chairperson’s post, Clotida Rukatsa with vengeance made a comeback by clinching the position after garnering 13 votes against the other two nominees; Fungai Gahadza who had 5 votes and Chagatai Mutambara who begged 3 votes in a round of elections which recorded a total of 2 spoiled votes.

A delegate from Chipinge, Joylene Dambaremba clinched the Secretary’s post after winning 11 votes against the other two participants; Fungai Gahadza who had 6 votes and Betty Madi who had 5 where one 1 vote was recorded as spoiled.

On the Vice-Secretary’s position, Loveness Mambo from Bindura garnered 9 votes to beat  Alice Kamhunga’s  5 votes and Lorrain Makoni’s 7 votes while 2 votes were spoiled.

It was also on the Treasure’s post where 2 contestants reached an impasse after Lorrain Makoni and Portia Makani shared 8 votes each whilst the third contestant; Betty Madii had 6 votes whilst a single spoiled vote was recorded.  A rerun of the contest saw Lorraine Makoni winning the post with 12 votes against Portia Makani who bagged 11 votes.

The organizing secretary’s position was on a clean slate won by Fungai Gahadza who garnered 11 votes against Portia Makani who had 3 votes and Chengetai Mutambara who attained 9 votes.

But Portia Makani later found solace on the 1^st Committee Member post beating Rumbidzai Nyandoro who had 8 votes and Egness Mbiya who garnered 6 votes in the same contest.

The 2^nd Committee Member was the last position to be contested and it entered into a rerun after Hazel Zimunya and Rumbidzai Nyandoro garnered 8 votes each whilst Alice Kambanga had 5 votes in a round of election which recorded a total of 2 spoiled votes. A rerun saw Nyandoro winning the post by 13 votes against Zimunya who scored 10 votes.

Congratulating the newly elected office bearers, the union’s General Secretary Gibson Mushunje reiterated that he looked forward to the continuous determination and commitment of the leaders warning that trade unionism is not a game for the faint hearted.

Mushunje encouraged the union cadres to immediately hit the ground running in advancing women interests by amongst other tasks coming up with a gender policy assuring that the union was fully behind their cause.

He said the union’s Young Workers elective conference was in the pipeline and also a national main congress which is due before this year end.

Speaking at the same occasion, the union’s Vice President, Florence Taruvinga who is also the ZCTU’s  current 1^st female President said for  those who did not make it,  it does not mean that they are not good enough but merely democracy at work adding that everyone was a winner.

Taruvinga implored for women’s collectiveness in participating in activities that involve them saying it is a step towards resilient in trade unionism.

‘’It is quite critical for women to participate on issues involving them. It is high time women speak against the agility and our issues not being represented. It is important for women to look into the future as to how they have to be resilient in pushing forward their issues. Participation of women is very critical because nothing for them without them. It is high time as women we continue breaking the bias through participation because the situation that we are faced with is continuation of serious challenges that are faced amongst women and Covid has put also exacerbation to the issues that we were fighting prior the pandemic and today,’ she said.

In her acceptance speech, the newly elected Chairlady, Chisi called for collective solidarity in tackling women challenges in the energy sector whilst also committing that she shall be driving the Executive as a Servant leader.