Stephen Chadenga
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and workers across the country have been plunged into mourning following the death of veteran trade unionist and city of Gweru employee Kudakwashe Munengiwa this morning.
Gweru City Council spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramusee confirmed Munengiwa’s death at a hospital in Harare and said council will issue a full statement later.
Munengiwa rose through the ranks of the labour movement, starting as ZCTU central region (Midlands province) regional chairperson in Gweru, where he worked for the city of Gweru.
ZCTU vice president Valentine Chikosi said he was at a loss of words after hearing of Munengiwa’s death.
“I am in pain my brother. I have known Munengiwa for quite long and we were very close in the labour union struggle, as we confronted those trampling on workers’ rights head-on. I say rest in peace and power my dear comrade,”Chikosi said.
During his time as ZCTU central region boss he was known for his outspoken stance on workers’ welfare particularly the return of the 2017 US dollar salary regime, a position he consistently maintained when he bacame ZCTU national second deputy secretary general and acting secretary general respectively.
“The greatest tragedy in this country is the destruction of value in terms of salaries. As ZCTU we don’t want salary increments, let us go back where we were in 2017. If someone was earning US$200, just give that person the equivalent of that,”Munengiwa boldly said then.
Munengiwa also championed occupational safety and health, was outspoken on job losses affecting hundreds of thousands of the country’s workforce and their families among other rights.
On October 17 2018 Munengiwa was arrested at his workplace in the Midlands capital by law and order police over a ZCTU demonstration on October 12, 2018 against the government’s 2% transaction tax and was charged with participating in an alleged gathering with intent to promote public violence.
Meawhile condolence tributes have continued pouring across many social media platforms with colleagues expressing shock at Munengiwa’s death.
“Eish what really happened to the dear comrade, so sad,”senator and former Gweru City Council executive mayor and also ex-deputy local government minister in the 2009-2013 Government of National Unity, Sesel Zvidzai posted on a residents’ association WhatsApp group.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association director Cornelia Selipiwe said: ” Rest in peace shumba Chikara (Munengiwa’s totem) till we meet again@Jesus’s feet.”
Veteran journalist Kudzanai Musengi described the late trade unionist as “a brave fighter for workers’ rights.”