2005-11-18,+ZCTU+Position+on+Senate+Elections

= ZCTU POSITION ON SENATORIAL ELECTIONS =

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is dismayed over the re-introduction of the senate by government and the forthcoming elections to choose the senators.

In a workshop held from 17-19 October 2005 in Harare, the ZCTU elected leadership, Presidents and General Secretaries of Unions affiliated to the ZCTU, in a resolution endorsed by the ZCTU National Executive Council sitting in Harare on 20 October 2005, the ZCTU, proclaimed that the reincarnation of the Senate is a waste of resources and goes against the wishes of the workers.

Instead of concentrating on measures to revitalize the economy, government is worsening the plight of workers and all Zimbabweans by creating institutions which will only further worsen the economic performance of the country.

It is against principle and of cause national ethos of nationalism that a government should prioritise political expediency by the creation of a Senate and resorting to unbudgeted consumption expenditures while 80% of Zimbabweans wallow in poverty.

The ZCTU would rather have the billions budgeted for Senate be channeled towards the improvement of salaries for teachers, Policeman, Soldiers and Nurses in government hospitals. People living with HIV/AIDS at the moment can not access or afford Anti Ritro - Viral Drugs and government hospitals are experiencing shortages of staff because of poor working conditions while Z$50 billion is put aside to take care of 65 people whose role will be to go to parliament to

The President should do away with this practice of accommodating his few cronies at the expense of the majority of Zimbabweans.

Surely this continued ride on the back of workers and suffering Zimbabweans cannot be tolerated anymore.

The ZCTU therefore denounces the creation of the Senate and urges all workers to oppose it with all their might. We also urge workers to find something better to do on 26 November 2005.

Wellington Chibebe


 * SECRETARY GENERAL **

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Mlamleli Sibanda Information Officer ZCTU Box 3549 Harare Tel: 263 4 702517 Cel: 263 11 620 232 Fax: 263 4 728484 E:mail: info@zctu.co.zw Web : wwww.zctu.co.zw