Hard times

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How are trade unions in Zimbabwe managing to keep going? Marianne Powell spoke to Gideon Shoko (left).

Workers in Zimbabwe have faced the most difficult of times. With the economy in freefall, many are simply not being paid. The rocketing inflation has made basic items unaffordable for the masses.

In this environment, unions are doing their best to keep working. Gideon Shoko is the general secretary of the Zimbabwe Amalgamated Railway Workers’ Union and deputy general secretary of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. He has been involved in the trade union movement for more than 30 years.

“It’s very difficult for us to operate,” he says. “The union has no resources. It is difficult to go out and meet members, they are spread out across the country.”

Under Mugabe’s government, trade unionists faced harassment at every turn. “At the national level, police attend meetings to listen in,” says Shoko. “If we refuse them entry, they declare the meeting illegal.”

Severe problems for new government

On 11 February 2009, Movement for a Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Zimbabwe’s prime minister. This was part of a power sharing agreement with Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF.

ZANU-PF has a long history of repressing trade union and civil rights. Union activists face severe restrictions. The rights of freedom of association, assembly and expression are not fully recognised, according to Human Rights Watch.

Zimbabwe has the world’s highest inflation rate and one of the lowest life expectancies – just 43 years for women. The country has a massive unemployment problem. Many basic items have become unaffordable for the majority of its citizens. Millions of Zimbabweans have fled to neighbouring countries.

Since the transitional coalition government came into power in February, the situation has improved, he says, and there has been little or no harassment of trade unionists.

But the economic situation is still a mess. Infrastructure has not been maintained, making it even harder for transport workers. Only 10 per cent of the railways are in operation, for example. There is no production in factories, farms and mines so there is nothing to transport. There was no sugar to till this year, so no harvest.

Many railway workers have not received their salary for three months (from February to April). The company issues payslips to the employees, so on record the salaries are “paid” but they have no access to cash. Nevertheless, the employees still come to the workplace and work. Many walk to and from work. It is rare that they eat three meals a day.

Union fees, paid through members’ salaries and deducted at source, are not being passed on, leaving a shortfall of almost US$12,000 per month. Union staff are not being paid, says Shoko, but they still come to work.

How does Shoko manage to keep going when things are so bad? “Everyone asks me this. I say, ask the lizard in the desert how he survives. He just does.”

When Shoko attended the Railway Workers’ Section conference in Curitiba last year, many ITF unions pledged help, donating money and even stationery. It went a long way to help, he says. Shoko has been arrested several times, and international messages of solidarity from ITF affiliates have also made a big difference.

Despite adversity, Shoko remains optimistic. “There is some hope,” he says. “If the new coalition government is nurtured properly, if the bad laws are repealed…”

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Issue 36 - July 2009

نسخة الرسومات الكاملة

إمكانية الدخول | مساعدة الموقع | خريطة الموقع

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