PTUZ Secretary General Raymond Majongwe said the development, less than three weeks before elections, is disturbing, discriminatory and prejudicial.
In an open letter to ZEC, Majongwe said: “We are so concerned that our members are being punished because of their trade union affiliation in stark violation of their freedom of association and inalienable labour rights enshrined in the constitution of Zimbabwe. We are also disappointed that this is not the first time that this has happened to our members and we wonder why state workers should be treated like this by government and quasi-government departments in a free country. In the March 16, 2013 referendum, our members received the same treatment from ZEC.”
The outspoken group say their members were also removed from the final list of census enumerators last year, despite having received training, and that they have also been excluded from marking national examinations by the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZIMSEC), although teachers from other unions were hired.
“We are sick and tired of being treated as if we are an illegal organisation, yet we are a bona fide trade union, which is duly registered in terms of the laws of our country. We are neither ZANU PF nor MDC, but a labour organisation,” Majongwe said.
The group is demanding an explanation from the ZEC Chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau.
We could not get a comment from ZEC officials. – SW Radio Africa News
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