ZIMBABWE Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) president, Kenias Shamhuyarira indicated to be in a major paradigm shift of supporting government recently when he delivered a speech in support of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) while castigating President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s anti worker policies.

ZFTU, a rival union’s federation formed during the late former President Robert Mugabe’s tenure to counter the ZCTU politically, has in the past identified itself with the ruling party ZANU- PF policies.

But the remarks made by Shamhuyarira’s at the national labour symposium on the future of work held in the capital recently, proved the rival union has had a “Damascus moment” and is equally fed up of government’s anti-worker policies.   

He predicted it will be difficult for Zimbabwe to move on with other nations into the fourth industrial revolution because of the current overwhelming economic problems.

Said Shamhuyarira, “For us to talk about the future we must talk about the past which has been unfortunately bleak hence the big question is what dowe do now with the type of leadership we have in the country?

“This country is not owed to one person’s mother but is owed to everyone. The problems bedeviling the country’s workers are being caused by a few individuals who are continuously muzzling us out, including employers who are connected to few politicians.”

He said politics in the long term does not sustain an economy hence the need to be simple and clear.

Added Shamhuyarira ,”Even as we prepare for the fourth industrial revolution  we need  a situation whereby government must urgently work towards retooling industry as well as making sure that resources which lift the country’s economy are well funded.”

Also speaking at the occasion, EMCOZ executive director, Nester Mukweva said the future of work discourse is important because of the impending technology’s transformation.

Said Mukweva ,”Critical questions on whether employers and employees going to be organised as they are today? This simply calls for the need to craft a resilient social dialogue through the TNF because the fourth industrial revolution is coming against a background where there is high unemployment, low productivity and power outages.”

ZCTU secretary general, Japhet Moyo said industrial revolutions are inevitable as businesses try to improve productivity and enhance profits.

He said unfortunately these revolutions are coming with far reaching changes to patterns and nature of production.