ZCTU+threatens+Makoni,+Ezekiel+Chiwara,+Zimbabwe+Guardian

=ZCTU threatens Makoni with unspecified action=

[|**Ezekiel Chiwara**]**, Zimbabwe Guardian, 16 February 2008**

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has threatened to take unspecified action against presidential candidate Simba Makoni and his grouping over utterances made by close aid, retired Major Kudzai Mbudzi that the labour union had given a thumps up to his candidature. In a statement yesterday, the ZCTU secretary general, Wellington Chibebe said the labour union was distancing itself from utterances by Retired Major Mbudzi and that he should withdraw the statement forthwith. Speaking at a public meeting at Masvingo Civic Centre on Sunday, Major Mbudzi told a sizeable crowd which had attended the meeting that all civic organizations in the country were behind Makoni’s candidature. He particularly mentioned the ZCTU, urging the gathering to also follow suit by voting for Makoni in the March 29 plebiscite. “The ZCTU would like to make it clear that it has neither been negotiating with Simba Makoni and his group nor has it entered into any agreement with his group,” he said. "The workers will not be hoodwinked by such cheap politics as they know the type of candidates they are going to vote for. If Major Mbudzi and his group have nothing to offer they should just keep quiet and not bring the name of the ZCTU into disrepute,” also said Chibebe. The ZCTU has openly indicated that it will back Movement for Democratic Change presidential candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai in the election, saying it was mandated at its 2006 Congress to do so. “The ZCTU support for the MDC was a congress resolution and for the labour body to change its stance, it would need another congress resolution to that effect,” said Chibebe, adding that the MDC was a baby of the union.


 * From: http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/news/117/ARTICLE/1644/2008-02-16.html**

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