The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has condemned the sacking of Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union (ZPNU) president Robert Chiduku by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, describing the move as persecution of the nurses.
Speaking to NewsDay on Tuesday, ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo said the firing of Chiduku for his unionism violated the Labour Act. Said Moyo:
Our position is the same as the one we gave pertaining to the rail workers’ issue. The Labour Act itself provides that an employee has the right to belong to an organisation, and is allowed to participate.
Comrade Chiduku had a right to belong to the Professional Nurses Association, and he also had the right to participate in the association’s activities.
He cannot be penalised for exercising that right. As far as we are concerned, this is pure victimisation as no other employee will be interested in being voted into the same position.
It would mean that workers are going to be afraid to lead other workers in trade unionism.
It also means that no one will want to be a member of a trade union as they can be dismissed for participating.
Chiduku was fired from Gweru Provincial Hospital on Monday, 15 August 2022 on allegations of conducting union business at his workplace without the employer’s consent. He has seven days to appeal the decision.
More: NewsDay