13 Sep 2025
Fellow workers of Zimbabwe, once again the ZCTU welcomes you to the
September 13 commemoration, a day we set aside to remember our struggles
for trade union rights and the police brutality perpetrated against unionists
over the years by a system in fear of a free manoeuvring working class.
Lest we forget, this commemoration has been held since 2007 marking the
unfortunate incident of September 13 2006 when police tortured and
brutalized 147 brave and courageous trade unionists country-wide, leaving
some of them with permanent injuries. As we gather today, over the years we
have lost Cdes Tonderai Nyahunzvi, Moses Ngondo and Rwatipedza
Chigwagwa who were subjected to the worst horrors of police brutality. May
their souls rest in eternal peace.
Back then we were demanding wages that were linked to the Poverty Datum
Line (PDL) and Government’s commitment to fight inflation, free distribution
of anti-retroviral drugs, a stop in the implementation of the compulsory
National Health Insurance Scheme that was to be administered by the National
Social Security Authority (NSSA). Some of these demands remain relevant
today.
As we are gathered to commemorate this day let us remember that workers
are not yet liberated in Zimbabwe. The scourge of abuse from foreign investors
particularly the Chinese on local employees calls on us to reflect on our
relevance as the labour movement. Is it not time we copy from the breed of
2006 on how to confront challenges? For how long are workers of Zimbabwe
going to be underpaid, beaten, killed, deprived of PPE and all other kinds of
labour abuses. We have also endured despicable conduct from the police
banning our processions, demonstrations and in some instances meetings. This
is clearly a violation of trade union’s rights to freedom of movement and
assembly which has left us with no options but to approach the courts for
redress in some instances.
The ZCTU is not discouraged by such conduct from the authorities, infact, it
gives us the resolve to fight harder. We remain focused on our goals and
important role that we have of laying the foundation in the democratization of
Zimbabwe. As we bring together all workers, coupled with our history of
internal democracy, transparency, and accountability we have been labelled an
enemy of the state. Today must mark the clarion call for us towards reclaiming
our constituency, the students, the jobless, pensioners, workers and their
families who are suffering for them to liberate themselves by actively
confronting the repressive system. The working class, from the grassroots, can
take the struggle forward.
It is our responsibility to rekindle the fighting spirit within our people to
achieve what should be done and how it should be done. As we pursue social
dialogue involving the social partners (government, employers, and labour) at
local, regional, national and international levels we will not cease to expose the
shortcomings of the system which seeks to suppress us.
Now our challenge as trade unions is to build holistic solidarity among people
and institutions and to instil wisdom that people have obligations to rally and
make sacrifices for collective goals. Our relevance will be premised on our
ability to connect citizens for a common cause. Like an octopus, lets spread our
tentacles and occupy social spaces be they political parties, social movements,
churches, school SDAs, social clubs, community groups and even political
parties to plant our desired ideology so that we effect the change that we
want.
This we have to do like yesterday because we are faced with a monster that
does not have respect for fundamental human and trade union rights, as
evidenced by the 2006 ‘Presidential assent’ to the brutality on workers whom
the authority deemed to be challenging the system by merely raising sensible
demands. A whole President of the republic blessed the brutality by
challenging workers to dare the system and the results were more than
shocking.
President Robert Mugabe told those that were gathered at the Zimbabwe
Mission in Cairo that:
“If you want an excuse for being killed, be my guest go into the streets and
demonstrate. The police were right in dealing sternly with Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions leaders during their demonstration….because the
trade unionists want to become a law unto themselves. We cannot have a
situation where people decide to sit in places not allowed and when the
police remove them, they say no. We can’t have that, that is a revolt to the
system. Vamwe vaakuchema kuti tarohwa, ehe unodashurwa. When the
police say move, move. If you don’t move, you invite the police to use force”.
That was the highest point of intolerance.
It is also sad that what our colleagues who were assaulted were fighting for
remain unfulfilled. Issues to do with the economic meltdown remain at the
center stage of our country. In fact, it appears it is getting worse and worse by
the day. We yearn for the day when we live in an era where we are not
beaten for demonstrating in the streets, an era where we are not brutalized
for exercising our rights and freedoms. Let me assure you that the ZCTU will
continue to fight for workers’ rights and freedoms.
Let me end by saying that what happened in 2006 must not be repeated. As we
move forward labour needs clarity of thought and direction to send a clear
message to authorities that we do not tolerate any form of brutality against
the working class. We must never be cowed from expressing ourselves or from
tabling our demands by any force.
Once again, thank you for coming.
