The National Union of Mines, Quarrying Iron and Steel Workers Union of Zimbabwe wrote to the Ministry of Labour to block the registration of the Zimbabwe Diamonds and Allied Workers Union.
A source privy to the issue said the rivalry emanated from the two unions’ affiliation to competing umbrella bodies.
“NUMQISWZ is an affiliate of the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions while ZDAWU is affiliated to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions,” the source said, adding that there were political machinations with the unions being linked to rival political parties.
In two letters addressed to the Ministry of Labour and signed by the union’s president Enock Sithole, copies of which were seen by The Zimbabwean, NUMQISWZ listed a number of objections to the registration of its rival and said it had managed to recruit at least 2,000 members.
One of the leaders of ZDAWU disputed the claim that their union did not have members. “We have over 1,000 members and we will present our proof of membership before the relevant authorities,” he said, dismissing claims by NUMQISWZ that his union needed clearance from mining companies.
“We are worker based and we do not deal with employers as we came from the employees. Our union was formed by workers in the diamond sector,” he said.
In another letter dated 2 May 2013 NUMQISWZ said the registration of ZDAWU would set a bad precedent. “In Zimbabwe we have over 90 precious minerals. If we allow the union are we then saying we will have over 90 unions representing each mineral in Zimbabwe,” the letter said.
ZDAWU’s formation was facilitated by the Chiadzwa Community Development Trust. “Most workers who were laid off by Anjin were members of CCDT and CCDT facilitated the formation of the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Workers Union (ZDAWU) after realisation that the workers in the Diamond fields have to organise themselves and protect their rights,” CCDT said in a statement.
Post published in: Business