8 Zim Commemorations In Agony

By Shingirai Vambe

As the world commemorates International Workers’ Day on May 1st, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) Africa and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) join the global community in celebrating the struggles and achievements of workers. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of promoting workers’ rights, social justice, and international solidarity.

In Zimbabwe, workers continue to face numerous challenges, including hazardous working conditions, low wages, and limited access to remedy in cases of workplace injuries or fatalities. The situation is particularly dire in the informal sector, which accounts for the vast majority of the country’s workforce. Informal workers are routinely excluded from occupational health and safety protections, social security schemes, and legal redress.

The ERC Africa, dedicated to advancing democratic integrity across the continent, stands in solidarity with workers worldwide. We recognize that elections are fundamental to democratic governance, fostering transparency and accountability. However, logistical challenges during elections can significantly impede citizens, including workers, from exercising their right to vote. The ERC is concerned that limited time away from work on election days may inadvertently infringe upon workers’ voting rights.

To address this challenge, the ERC calls on relevant authorities across Africa to review existing legislation and enact new regulations to safeguard workers’ rights to vote on election days. Specifically, the ERC recommends introducing provisions enabling employees to take a leave of absence for a specified period on polling day to cast their vote or reviewing the definition of persons who may vote by post or through special voting mechanisms.

ZLHR joins the global community in commemorating International Workers’ Day under the theme “Occupational Health and Safety: A Fundamental Right at Work.” The theme highlights the legal and moral imperative to safeguard every worker’s health, safety, and dignity in the workplace. Despite constitutional guarantees and international commitments, Zimbabwean workers continue to face numerous challenges.

The public service, in particular, has been plagued by corruption and inefficiencies, with salaries ranging from a paltry $200 to over $500 per month. According to statistics, an employee should be earning at least $1200 per month to make ends meet. University lecturers have staged a picket, demanding better working conditions and pay rises, reflecting the broader struggles faced by workers across the country.

The government has consistently suppressed the rights of its citizens, deploying security forces to quell any form of dissent. Though not openly showing their support to the cause, recent actions by war veteran Blessed Runesu Geza have sparked widespread support among citizens, who are fed up with the country’s dire condition. The nation’s services, working class, education, and administration have been in shambles, plunging the country into extreme poverty and sorrow.

As the nation commemorates various milestones, the underlying issues remain unaddressed. Zimbabwe has had eight commemorations so far, each marked by agony and discontent. The citizens’ plight is a reminder of the need for meaningful change and reform. The question remains, will the government heed the call for change, or will it continue to suppress the voices of its citizens?

The success story of the Universities, was after a high court ruling. legal representative, Munyaradzi Gwisai said it was a snippet of a bigger picture.

In a show of solidarity, about 200 lecturers gathered at the University of Zimbabwe’s main gate, sloganeering and waving placards with messages that read “Aluta continua”, “Wages NOT woes”, “Value our work”, and “Pay us US$ or We flunk your wallet”. The lecturers, represented by the Associations University Teachers (AUT), had initially planned a two-day protest, but after a High Court ruling barring university authorities and the police from disrupting their demonstration, they decided to take their fight to the streets.

Addressing the gathered lecturers, AUT treasurer Obvious Vengeyi said, “Finally, we are here after a High Court interdict to stop the police from disrupting our picketing and the struggle for a better salary for our members will continue until victory is obtained.” Vengeyi made it clear that the strike would be indefinite, stating, “We will not tire until our demands are met, so the strike is indefinite.”

The lecturers’ demands are not just about better pay, but also about being valued and respected for their work. They are calling for a fundamental shift in the way they are treated by the authorities, and for their rights as workers to be recognized. The protest is a testament to the determination and resilience of the lecturers, who are willing to take a stand for what they believe in.

This protest is part of a larger struggle for workers’ rights in Zimbabwe, where many are fighting for better pay, working conditions, and dignity. As the country commemorates International Workers’ Day, the lecturers’ protest serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by workers in Zimbabwe and the need for continued advocacy and action to ensure that workers’ rights are protected and promoted.