By Staff Writer
RESPECTED trade unionist and human rights defender Peter Mutasa has bagged another global accolade at the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Africa’s 5th Ordinary Congress currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya.
He was recognized for his fearless contributions to the people’s struggle.
The African Regional Organisation of the ITUC-Africa is a pan-African trade union organisation created in November 2007 following the merger of two former African trade union organisations.
Headquartered in Lome, Togo the global labour organ boasts of 17 million declared members and 101 affiliated trade union centers in 51 African countries.
Details seen by The Humanitarian Post confirms that the former Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leader continues to be recognized yeas after leaving the latter’s helm.
“Congratulations to our former President Mutasa for being awarded the Trade Union Award for African Trade Unionists who made an impact,” a post on X reads in part.
The majority of Zimbabweans widely regard Mutasa as a voice of the voiceless in the matrix of Zimbabwe’s hardships following his pivotal role of resurrecting the struggle for a better nation after leading workers to rise up against hardships during his five years tenure at the helm of country’s most influential labor federation.
He is the current secretary general of one of the country’s top trade unions, Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union.
He is also the current chairperson of the Crisis In Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) a conglomeration of 75 civic society organisations where he continues to fearlessly tackle pro-poor rights issues during the difficult times.
The latest award is one of the several accolades Mutasa has received from several institutions across the globe.
About Peter Mutasa
Peter Mutasa is a Zimbabwean trade unionist and the former president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). He is also the General Secretary of Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union
Mutasa gained mainstream prominence in Zimbabwe after calling for a nationwide stay away from 14 January 2019 to 16 January 2019. The stay away turned violent when protestors barricaded roads, burnt cars and looted several shops around the country but especially in Harare and Bulawayo.
On 25 January 2019, Mutasa handed himself over to the police after the police said they were looking to question him.
On 26 January, Mutasa was charged with treason and remanded in custody. He joined other activist that had been charged with treason following the protests including Pastor Evan Mawarire, ARTUZ President Obert Masaraure, ZCTU Secretary General Japhet Moyo, and Zimbabwe Youth Alliance president Kumbirai Learnmore Magorimbo.
