ZCTU losing the plot

ZCTU losing the plot

MATOMBO

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By Kuthula Matshazi

THE rationale of two issues communicated by high ranking officials of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions last Saturday is difficult to understand.

The ZCTU chairman Lovemore Matombo has called for a two-day strike on September 19 and 20, while his Secretary General Wellington Chibhebhe says he does not oppose price cuts that were ordered by the government but is against the “after effects”.

The strike, according to Matombo, is a result of “government…ignoring demands to link wages to the poverty line and...a recent presidential decree in which [President Robert] Mugabe barred any pay rises without special authorisation.”

Motombo also criticises the government for failing to peg the tax-free threshold to the poverty datum line in the government’s supplementary budget last week.

These are genuine grievances expressed by Matombo, but the manner in which he seeks to solve them is illogical. On the other hand Chibhebhe too, like Matombo, suffers from the same logic paralysis.

Matombo’s argument for a strike is unsound because it would only serve to contribute to man hours and productivity lost and therefore revenues. Granted, already there have been man hours lost and production because of the decreased capacity utilisation, but then this should be the reason for Zimbabweans to realise that we do not need to lose any more of the productivity time.

Calling people into the streets will not bring about any increase in the tax free threshold. On the contrary, it might require that government even raises the threshold in order to increase revenues through taxation. Obviously, the other choice would be to keep the threshold low to boost disposable income and encourage consumption.

In making these choices, it is a close call because there is no guarantee that each system could produce the intended results. In essence, calling people into the street for a strike or demonstration would be worsening an already fragile economy. What is expected of the ZCTU is to nurture the economy so that it could go back to its former vibrant state, and not use it as a bargaining tool.

While government can determine things like tax free threshold, it does not mean that if it responds to these demands, then everything would suddenly be resolved. There are many other factors to consider and one of these is the business sector.

It should also be responsive and ensure that it plays its part as expected in the social contract. It should provide decent salaries and wages and also cease its tendency of pricing its goods and services based not on factors such as labour costs, rent and reasonable margins of profit, but on forecast future inflation. It should stop profiteering.

There are so many other matters that the ZCTU should target for attendance rather than just a strike aimed at government. And the best place where the ZCTU could discuss these issues is the Tripartite Negotiating Forum. If the ZCTU leadership argues that it has failed to get any progress or concessions at the TNF, then it means that they are failures and should pass on the task to more able persons who can strategise, engage partners and come up with a workable consensus.

To solely aim at government is tantamount to taking cheap shots apparently intended to portray the foundering labour body as still relevant and effective in representing workers’ welfare.

Matombo should also bear in mind the perils of calling for strikes. Like the several before this one, it is unlikely to be heeded and thereby further drain away the last of the residue of credibility left in the labour body.

Chibhebhe calls for price cuts and yet he does not support the “after effects”. This is strange because price cuts will eventually have “after effects”. We do not live in a perfect world. As such we would be expected to make difficult choices such as in this matter. The challenge is to manage the effects of a particular choice.

Chibhebhe cannot have it both ways. It is impossible to have price cuts that do not produce after effects. His apparent unstated preference seems to be retaining the status quo while still making people believe that he supports the price cuts. How hypocritical!

Kuthula Matshazi is a host for a current affairs programme African Perspective on CHRY 105.5FM in Toronto. Visit his blog at http://kuthula.blogspot.com

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