03 September 2020
For immediate Release
PRESS RELEASE
SUBJECT: MINISTER PAUL MAVIMA OFFSIDE ON ZCTU MONDAY DEMONSTRATIONS
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has noted the offside comments in the media attributed to the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Paul Mavima, were he urged workers to shun demonstrations called by the ZCTU claiming that the protests have nothing to do with improving the welfare of employees and were instead only meant to prop-up the political agenda of opposition parties.
It is unfortunate that the Minister could stoop so low as he is fully aware that at the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF), the ZCTU has made it clear that workers are demanding payment in US dollars as the local currency is losing value every day. This has been on the TNF agenda for months on end without anything coming out of it.
More so, it is on public record that the ZCTU has been demanding that the country revert to the August 2018 salaries and wages in order to restore workers’ buying power There was therefore no need for the Minister to express shock as to why the labour federation was mobilising workers. If indeed there is anyone who is ‘politicising’ the issue, it is the Minister himself. There is no motive behind these demonstration, workers simply want a better life.
We reiterate that the government must reverse its policy and allow payment of wages and salaries in US dollar. We also call upon all our affiliates to intensify the protests at their different workplaces every Monday until we achieve our goal.
Japhet Moyo
SECRETARY-GENERAL
