Much is happening in the Southern African region. This is a brief update of events.
ZimbabweLike other countries across the globe, including South Africa, Zimbabwe has recently seen its currency plummet against foreign currencies like the USA dollar. This has just added to Zimbabwean workers woes who have already been suffering under structural adjustment programmes instituted in their country.
Early this year, workers came out in force to demonstrate against government and its policies. Again in August, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (Zctu) announced that it would call another stayaway in September "against unpopular taxes and bad governance".
In a surprise move to avert the stayaway, government agreed to:
In a tripartite meeting with government, industry and trade unions, parties agreed to establish a tripartite task force on food prices that would look at measures to stabilise price increases.
But on September 22, the government announced through the press that it had agreed to a request for a price increase by manufacturers. Government then denied that it had agreed to the increase.
But in the shops, prices of maize meal, cooking oil, wheat and bread went up by between 17 and 22% from October 7.
At a Nec meeting held on October 10, the Zctu made it clear that "the only solution is to award all workers a 20% increment across the board", says cde Sibanda, Zctu Information Officer. The Nec also resolved that "when food prices go up, the workers should also get an equivalent percentage increase across the board until a time when proper negotiations take place."
While Zctu struggles to demand a 20% wage increment, government announced during the week of October 1, that top state officials would get salary and allowance increments of nearly 40% back-dated to July 1998! Just whose belts must be tightened!
(Thanks to Zctu for information)
As Shopsteward went to print, elections for the people of Swaziland had been extended because of poor voter turnout at the polls. With opposition parties still banned and freedom of political expression, association and assembly not guaranteed, the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) and other progressive organisations had called on voters to boycott the elections.
SFTU says that in 1996 when the King appointed a Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), it was given 2 years to come up with a new democratic dispensation. But to SFTU’s dismay the CRC remained "non-inclusive, the structure was not participatory, it was overloaded with traditionalists, royalists, chiefs and close relatives to the Crown. Out of 33 there were only 4 progressives." And the State of Emergency remained in place. "We condemned the process as cosmetic", it said.
Oatuu - the trade union federation for African unions – will hold its 7th congress next year. Congresses are held once every 4 years. Elections for office bearers will be held and new policy adopted.
Satucc – the Southern African arm of Oatuu - will hold its congress on November 21 in Swaziland. The last congress took place in 1994/5. 4 delegates from Cosatu will attend. The October Cec will decide on names.
Lesotho
Num has just announced that it has set up a task force and a fund for the damage caused in Lesotho.
As Shopsteward went to print, it had put down R100,000 and had approached the mining houses to support the initiative.
"In principle there is agreement from the Chamber. The money will be given to the Red Cross for distribution" said cde George Molebatsi, Num media spokesperson.
Botswana
One thousand workers at Korean car company Hyundai’s Botswana plant went on a go-slow during July and August to protest against their wages of R600 per month, their working conditions and the company’s enforcement that they join a medical aid scheme and pay for it.
During the go-slow they reduced the output of vehicles per day from 40 to 3.
Workers won a 5% wage increase in a country where inflation averages 5 to 6%.
