By Staff Reporter
A number of organisations have welcomed the coming on board of the new Zimbabwe Congress Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General,Tirivanhu Marimo.
Marimo choked a landslide victory of 55 votes ahead of his main contender at an Extra Ordinary Congress convened Saturday to fill the vacuum left by long serving trade unionist, Japhet Moyo.
In a statement, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) hailed the appointment saying it signals a new path.
“ARTUZ, congratulates Cde Tiri Marimo for being elected as the new Secretary General, SG, of ZCTU.The victory is not for Cde Marimo alone but for all workers in Zimbabwe. The Union is convinced that the new SG has all the credentials it takes to redirect the operations of ZCTU towards the interest of workers.
“The elections were conducted at a time when the workers’ mother body had been hijacked by politicians and diverted from pursuing the core mandate of defending workers interest,” the union said.
Tiri’s election, the union said, demonstrates that its still posiible to wean out the individuals within the executive who are pursuing personal agendas of serving political interests and defeating the purpose of ZCTU’s existence.
ARTUZ urged the ZCTU leadership to engage CDE Moyo, whose attempt to block the Extra Ordinary Conference, was deemed not urgent by the Courts as well as fairly compensating him and appreciating his outstanding service to the Federation during tumultuous times.
The Democratic Alliance’s Ostallos Siziba also welcomed Marimo’s appointment describing it as a chance to align the federation to its former glory days.
“ Comrade Marimo, the ZCTU you now lead as General Secretary is faced with a mammoth task to bring back the yesteryear glory of the ZCTU. It is the ZCTU that mobilized against ESAP in the late 90s. It is the ZCTU that formed the National Constitutional Assembly demanding a people-driven constitution. It is the ZCTU that formed the people’s popular party in 1999.
“Therefore, as we congratulate you on your new and important revolutionary role in the workers’ movement, we are also reminding you of the important national task ahead of you,” he said.
Siziba said the task ahead of Marimo reminds citizens that the struggle for workers’ rights must also deliver justice for those who gave their best years to Zimbabwe.
“Under your leadership, ZCTU must champion their dignity and fight for fair treatment of all workers — past, present, and future,” he added.
