Government reacts to new party

The Zimbabwean government has reportedly ordered the attorney-general's office to advise it on the legality of leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) holding senior positions in the newly-launched opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), media reports said on Monday. Florence Chitauro, the minister of public service, labour and social welfare, was quoted as saying it was illegal under the Labour Relations Act for the union leaders to hold positions in a political party and the ZCTU, as this would allegedly prejudice the interests of the workers. "The government will not hesitate to take stern measures against the leaders unless a clear distinction was made between the labour movement and the political party," Chitauro reportedly said. The MDC was launched on Saturday in Harare and elected Gibson Sibanda as its interim chairman and Morgan Tsvangirai as its interim secretary-general. Sibanda is also the president of the ZCTU while Tsvangirai is the unions' secretary-general. Nomore Sibanda, ZCTU's spokesperson told IRIN on Monday that this is not a new threat against the labour movement to emanate from government quarters. "At the height of our strike activity in 1997 and 1998, there were threats to deregister the ZCTU, but these came to nought," Sibanda said. He added that the labour act only prohibits the use of union dues to fund political activities. "There is no basis for government to deregister the ZCTU, however, should this happen, we will not recognise that action," Sibanda said. The MDC's first congress at the end of the year will confirm the party's leadership.