Workers Union of Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (WUTAZ) has resolved to withdraw their affiliation from the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
But ZCTU President, Leonard Hikaumba has urged WUTAZ to remain patient as the mother union body will soon look into the issue to resolve the leadership wrangles that have erupted in the union.
WUTAZ National General Secretary, Africa Mkandawire who disclosed the development to ZANIS in Kapiri Mposhi said his union resolved to pull out of ZCTU after a recommendation from its unionized workers from all the eight branches in the country.
Mr Mkandawire said the workers recommended for the pulling-out because ZCTU has failed to provide guidance and leadership to the amicable resolution of the leadership wrangles that have rocked WUTAZ for some time now.
Mr Mkandawire said the unionized workers have accused ZCTU of fueling the persistent leadership wrangles in WUTAZ by abrogating section 34 subsections (1) and (2) of the Labour and Industrial Relations Act Chapter 269 of the Laws of Zambia.
He said the ZCTU executive has handpicked and decided to work with a WUTAZ splinter group instead of the duly elected executive.
“The workers feel that ZCTU has abrogated the Labour and Industrial relations Act provisions because they have interfered in the internal affairs of WUTAZ by recognizing and aligning itself with renegade leaders who were expelled from the union… they have chosen to sideline duly elected leaders of the union so the workers have spoken… they do not want to belong to ZCTU because of reasons of interference”, Mr Mkandawire said.
Mr Mkandawire said WUTAZ will affiliate to the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ).
But ZCTU President, Leonard Hikaumba has appealed to the two splinter groups of WUTAZ to remain patient while the mother union body looks into the issue to resolve the leadership impasse.
In a phone interview with ZANIS in Kapiri Mposhi today Mr Hikaumba said ZCTU has not yet sat to consider the matter pertaining to leadership wrangles that have resulted in the formation of two WUTAZ adversary executive committees.
“Yes the leadership wrangles in our affiliate union (WUTAZ) have been brought to our attention but we are yet to table them … we have been advised by the Ministry of Labour to rehearse with the two groups and we have been reminded to advise the leaders in WUTAZ to observe and adhere to the Labour and Industrial Relations Act”, Mr Hikaumba said.
Mr Hikaumba further said ZCTU will only table the matter after it peruses the WUTAZ constitution to acquaint itself with the provisions in an event of what was pertaining in the union.
There have been leadership disputes in WUTAZ which have resulted in the formation of two adversary executive committees to represent the workers.
The rebel union was formed by some expelled WUTAZ executive members led by former union Vice President, Aaron Tiza.
Those expelled from the union include Vice President, Aaron Tiza, Deputy General Secretary, Beatrice Kampangwe, Committee Member, Pery Kapindula and National Trustees, Jacob Lombe and Petronella Mutale.
Last week the removed union leaders expelled the entire incumbent WUTAZ executive led by Mr Africa Mkandawire for alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of union funds.
ZANIS
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