By Simbarashe Sithole
Former and affected employees of Zimbabwe have made an urgent appeal to His Excellency President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and the Government of Zimbabwe to intervene in what they describe as longstanding unfair labour practices and alleged abuse of institutional immunity by CIMMYT Zimbabwe.
The workers allege that for more than a decade, dating back to 2013, over 200 employees and former employees have been subjected to unfair labour practices, exploitation, discrimination, and denial of labour justice under the cover of immunity granted through the Privileges and Immunities Act.
According to the affected workers, the alleged violations include denial of workers’ rights to join trade unions, suppression of workers’ committees, non-payment of overtime, discrimination in wages, abuse of fixed-term contracts, labour casualisation, non-compensation of leave days, and underpayment of terminal benefits.
The employees argue that such practices violate Section 65 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which guarantees every worker the right to fair and safe labour practices, fair wages, and freedom of association.
Several matters involving former workers from Muzarabani, Harare field stations, and CIMMYT guest house employees are reportedly before labour tribunals under the National Employment Council for Agriculture and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
The workers allege that CIMMYT Zimbabwe, through its lawyers, has submitted before labour forums that due to its immunity status granted to them in 2013 the organisation cannot be sued in local courts and tribunals.
When contacted for comment, employees’ representative and Director of the Legal Aid Network, Collins Kasiya confirmed that immunity had been raised as part of CIMMYT’s legal defence.
“I confirm the immunity submission. However, the matter is before the tribunal and legal processes are currently underway. I am therefore not at liberty to provide further comment at this stage,” said Kasiya.
The affected employees warned that allowing immunity to override constitutional labour protections would create a dangerous precedent within Zimbabwe’s justice delivery system and undermine workers’ confidence in labour institutions.
“No organisation operating in Zimbabwe should be above the Constitution or beyond accountability. Zimbabwean workers deserve dignity, protection, and justice regardless of the international status of an employer,” said one of the affected workers.
The employees further expressed concern that similar allegations involving CIMMYT operations have reportedly emerged in Kenya, raising broader questions about labour practices within some international organisations operating across Africa.
Invoking Pan-African values and workers’ solidarity, the former employees said Africa’s liberation and development agenda cannot coexist with exploitation of African labour through legal technicalities and institutional immunity.
“Africa cannot achieve meaningful development while African workers are denied justice in their own countries. Pan-Africanism stands for dignity, equality, sovereignty, and protection of African people and their labour,” the workers stated.
The employees nevertheless expressed appreciation for President Mnangagwa’s leadership and national development vision under the mantra “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,” saying true national development must include protection of workers’ rights and labour justice.
The affected employees are now calling upon:
President Emmerson Mnangagwa;
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare;
Parliament of Zimbabwe;
Trade unions and labour federations;
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission;
Regional and international labour rights bodies;
to urgently intervene and ensure that constitutional labour protections are upheld and that immunity provisions are not abused to defeat access to justice.
The workers also called for an independent investigation into CIMMYT Zimbabwe’s labour practices, protection of current employees from victimisation, and full compensation of all affected workers.
“An injury to one worker is an injury to all. African workers are not disposable. African dignity must be respected, and African justice must prevail.”