Staff Writer
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has elected Valentine Chikosi of the Zimbabwe Railway and Allied Workers Union (ZIMRATU) as its new president to lead the labour federation for the next five years.
Chikosi emerged victorious at the ZCTU’s 10th General Elective Conference, which elected a new leadership team tasked with steering the country’s largest labour federation over the next five years.
He will be deputised by Cuthbert Chikwekwete of the Commercial Workers Union of Zimbabwe (CWUZ), who was elected First Vice President, while Douglas Chiradza of the National Employment Council Workers Union of Zimbabwe (NEWUZ) secured the Second Vice President position.
Enock Dongo of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) was elected Third Vice President.
The Secretary-General’s position was uncontested, with the incumbent retaining the position.
In the deputy secretary-general positions, Nhamo Bepete of the Zimbabwe Agricultural and Rural Workers Union (ZARWU) was elected First Deputy Secretary-General, while Runesu Dzimiri of the Food Federation and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe (FFAWUZ) was elected the Second Deputy Secretary-General position.
Constantine Rutsate of the Energy Sector Workers Union of Zimbabwe (ESWUZ) was elected Treasurer-General.
The conference also elected three trustees to oversee the federation’s governance and institutional affairs.
They are Austin Muswere of the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ), Fozert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe Chemical and Allied Workers Union (ZCATWU), and Enos Mwerenga of the Zimbabwe Food and Allied Workers Union (ZFTAWU).
The new leadership takes over at a critical time for Zimbabwe’s labour movement, which continues to face challenges relating to workers’ welfare, declining purchasing power, employment conditions, collective bargaining and the protection of workers’ rights.
The five-year leadership tenure is expected to provide an opportunity for the new team to strengthen the federation’s representation of workers and engagement with government, employers and other stakeholders on labour-related matters.