To ZCTU Secretary General Mr.Japhet Moyo
On the 27th
of September 2012, I received a complaint letter from Cde Japhet Moyo, on a Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) letterhead, authenticating it to be disseminating ZCTU
views and position pertaining to constructive criticism I made on my BLOG, the
Vuvuzela Times. I deduced one basic and worrying point from the tone of this
letter: ZCTU is now in a drive to stifle freedom of expression, civic
commentary and withdrawing into shellshock.
It is
worrying to note this sad development given the imperative fact that the trade
union has been in the past the doyen of free expression, champion of free
association and proponent of free choice as noted by how it played the midwifery
role in the birth of a very strong and dynamic labour back movement, then the
MDC.
From time immemorial,
the activities of the ZCTU, were synonymous with the struggles of the peasants,
the working class, the students, the weak in the society, the suppressed and those
that are at the lower ebb of the socio-political and economic ladder. This was
made possible due to the deliberate efforts of the leadership at the ZCTU then
to provide strong vision and leadership through the creation of a platform that
enhanced the critical pillars of such struggles as: freedom of assembly;
freedom of association; freedom of expression and above all being at the
epic-centre of collective bargaining on behalf of the suffering and toiling
workers.
Having note
the forgoing and having contextualized the issue at hand let me make these
take-home points for the ZCTU leadership and the authors of the ill fated 27
September letter addressed to my person.
1. The ZCTU should move away from this elitist approach of focusing on
writing letters in their air-conditioned boardrooms targeting people offering
them free advice that is second to none such as my comments on my blog.
2. The ZCTU is not a private company that enjoys managing the public
relations for narrow personal ends. It is OUR organization, the workers and the
children of the suffering masses, hence we are the critical stakeholders who
must be treated with respect and dignity when we make commentary on the well
being of our institution.
3. When the leadership is weak, or is lacking, there is no room for
blame shifting for such leadership deficiencies. Face the challenges and
address them instead of seeing shadows from any constructive commentary.
4. The ZCTU should not be seen to be promoting internal cannibalism,
through taking us back to stone age periods were criticism is viewed at enmity,
deviousness and evil-some. Instead it should be viewed as an opportune moment
of introspection and shaping a refined road back to the hey days when the
labour movement was viewed as the centre for socio-political and economic
struggles.
5. The ZCTU (hyena) should not accuse its kids of smelling like goats
when it wants to devour them. As a proud son of the ZCTU, I hold no ulterior
motive except seeing to it that the organization is stronger and regains its
lost voice of being the centre for national mobilization. During my time as the
National Spokesperson of ZINASU, I worked hard with ZCTU and NCA is ensuring
that there was the general appreciation that ZCTU is the MOTHER of ZINASU
(STUDENTS) and that NCA is the constitutional arm of the suffering parents and
students. This has been the reality and gospel unless it’s about to change now?
If it’s changing, then I will be the first person to inform you that I will not
want to waste my time on you and your “name” and the future of such a private
set up.
6. We don’t believe in the current thinking at the leadership that
believes when there is a misunderstanding the best option is to rush to laws levelling
criminal charges against online media activism. If you felt harmed in any way
you are free to approach the VOLUNTARY MEDIA COUCIL OF ZIMBABWE (VMCZ) which
your institution subscribes to as noted by adverts in your paper, THE WORKER.
I would like
to remind you that the workers of Zimbabwe are not bothered about this exchange
of letters, engagement of lawyers over letters, accusations of this and that
and boardroom meetings. They want the tangible results of seeing their salaries
increased, better working conditions, reductions in the cannibalistic taxation
system and better relations between employer and employee.
I therefore
make the following immediate recommendations:
1. Take an active role in ensuring that the biggest employer in
Zimbabwe, the Government pays its employees, the civil servants better salaries
and awards them their bonus as due.
2. Make concerted efforts towards dragging the employer and government
to the negotiation table for improved working conditions
3. Be vocal on the workers’ than writing letters to me.
Having said
all these things I wouldn’t want to waste my productive time through sitting
down and responding to any communication from your office.
Mr Secretary
General, I hope NOT to hear from you again on such issues or any related to the
same.
Your
Revolutionary Comrade,
I remain,
Blessing
“Vuvuzela” Vava
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