International pressure is mounting for the Zimbabwe government to respect labour rights following condemnation by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). ITUC launched a global solidarity campaign in support of the ZCTU on the 4 of February demanding that government stop harassment of trade unions, withdraw criminal charges, amend draconian laws.

The government has torched a storm after Tannouncing pathetic domestic workers' salaries gazetted through Statutory Instrument 37 of 2020 which sets the minimum wages for domestic workers in Zimbabwe.

As we went to press, there was a stalemate on the issue of a minimum wage at the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF). The main culprits are employers that are refusing to give a minimum wage to workers.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the attacks on perpetrated by the Movement for Democratic Change following attacks on Robert Tapfumaneyi, a journalist working for Sly Media, who was assaulted by the party's security personnel on, 21 January while covering the party's event in the capital Harare.

ZCTU Secretary General Japhet Moyo  has  won  the prestigious 2020 SOLIDAR Silver Rose Jury Award for fighting for social justice, human and trade union rights in Zimbabwe.

Soft Drink Manufacturing Workers Union (SDMWU) was disaffiliated from Food Federation and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe (FFAWUZ) following non-payment of affiliation fees since 2015. FFAWUZ is the Federation of Food Unions in Zimbabwe and each affiliate according to the Constitution pays 60% of its income to FFAWUZ as its monthly affiliation fees.

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is greatly disturbed by the government’s lack of seriousness in resolving its dispute with the striking doctors. The continued strike by the doctors is causing untold suffering and unnecessary death of ordinary Zimbabweans as the strike has paralyzed operations at state-run hospitals.

THAT Mugabe is gone is no longer news but the drama surrounding his burial will remain news for some time. When the old man passed on, Chigumura was taking a  sabbatical, but that does not stop Chigumura from making a comment.

The labour movement in Zimbabwe was robbed of an illustrious trade unionist Lovemore Motombo who died on the 27th of January 2020 in Harare. Matombo served in various capacities in the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions where he served as Vice President in the mid 1980's and at the helm as president from 2001–2011.

With less than 50 days to go to the make or break harmonized polls, there seems to be chaos in the leading opposition party, the MDC-T, which was still conducting primary elections for some constituencies while the ruling Zanu PF had gone a gear up in campaigning.