A left-wing protester runs to avoid water from a Turkish police water canon during minor clashes between police and people protesting Turkey's operations against Kurdish militants in Istanbul.
WASHINGTON DC —
Zimbabwe’s major workers’ unions will for the first time snub political party leaders as they mark Workers' Day on Thursday.
Union leaders told Studio 7 in separate interviews politicians are in the habit of hijacking such events to feather their own political nests.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary general Japhet Moyo said, “Our members have expressed concern that most May Day venues have been turned into intimidating political arenas.”
He said only Labour Minister Nicholas Goche and lawmakers have been invited to attend the event where only the minister will be given an opportunity to make public remarks.
Moyo said workers should not wear party regalia to Workers’ Day commemorations at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare and other 20 centres across the country Thursday.
He lamented the current economic situation which contributed to their scaling down of activities.
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Interview With Japhet Moyo
Concerned Affiliates of the ZCTU leader, Lovemore Matombo, said they will also shun politicians this year.
Matombo, whose group will gather at the Harare Gardens, noted that past experiences have taught them a lesson that politicians should not be involved in workers’ activities because they end up forgetting that they are supposed to be addressing workers’ concerns.
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Interview With Lovemore Matombo
Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions secretary general Kennias Shamuyarira further said their activities will this year be in the resort town of Kariba as they target workers outside Harare.
