ZCTU CONDOLENCE MESSAGE
RE: DEATH OF COMRADE LOVEMORE MATOMBO
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has learnt with great shock and sadness on the passing on of Comrade Lovemore Matombo, on 27 January 2020.
Comrade Matombo, a former ZCTU President, and also President of CASWUZ was President of the ZCTU until the 2011 Congress.
A humble and fatherly character, he dedicated his entire life to the service of the labour movement by fighting for justice at the workplace. Matombo led the ZCTU during its most trying times 2001 – 2011 when it was under the full might of state repression.
Famed for leading from the front, he was arrested several times and was victimised and fired by TelOne over his commitment to trade unionism. Matombo led the most notable September 13 2006 ZCTU demonstration which left him and other leaders heavily brutalised by the police at the infamous Matapi police station in Mbare. Matombo and his deputy Lucia Matibenga, Secretary General Wellington Chibebe, the late General council members Rwatipedza Chigwagwa and Moses Ngondo and other activists were left with broken limbs from their ordeal at Matapi just for leading a bona fide trade union demonstration demanding better welfare for the working poor and citizenry.
Many trade unionists of today were groomed by Matombo to become opinion leaders in the labour movement, the community and the country at large. He shall forever be remembered for his bravery and resoluteness to cause of the working poor.
The ZCTU conveys its sincere condolences to his family, the workers of Zimbabwe and the entire labour movement over the loss of a trade unionist par excellence.
He will be sadly missed.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Japhet Moyo
Secretary-General
28 January 2020
