It was a pleasure to return to the beautiful country of Zimbabwe last week, from Monday 27th to Friday, 31st of March, 2017. This time for the first Executive Committee Meeting of IndustriALL Global Union Sub Saharan Africa Region after the 2nd World Congress of IndustriALL Global Union. Yours comradely was elected a Vice President at the historic 2nd World Congress of 50 million membership IndustriALL Global Union with the theme, “Fighting Forward/A Luta Continua” which held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in October, 2016. It was attended by over 1,500 delegates drawn from 600 affiliate unions from more than 100 countries. Out of these, 58 trade unions affiliates from 28 countries attended from Africa. Undoubtedly last week meeting was an appreciation no less an agenda setting meeting. On behalf of the newly elected Executives I therefore expressed my deep gratitude and appreciation to all our affiliates and our million members in the Sub Saharan Africa region for the support and cooperation which led to my election and a call to greater service delivery for African and global working class. Zimbabwe has for better for worse assumed notoriety for sanctions, economic immigrants, open ended inflation and sit-tight President Robert Mugabe.
But all these mask a truly “unique and beautiful country… boasting the majestic Victoria Falls, magnificent wildlife preserves, the medieval ruins of Great Zimbabwe” and most importantly warm and resilient people the best of which are my dear Zimbabwean comrades. In January 2015 I was at Victoria Falls to witness a successful 8th Congress of Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union (ZEWU) with the theme; “Workers Rights are Basic Human Rights, let us reposition ourselves in defence of our right to job security”. Mosi-oa-Tunya or ‘the smoke which thunders’ is a must see. Victoria Falls Is A World Heritage Site, the roar and the cloud of mist that perpetually forms above it beats imagination! As a an early morning fitness freak, I bear witness that Zimbabwe, a country of 11 million people is “a mecca for the outdoor-lover” of fresh air, outstanding scenery and deep reflections. The Executive meeting afforded all to pay tribute to the families of our departed comrades, in particular, Comrade Kabuya Theodore Mulamba of the Democratic Republic of Congo who died about a month after the 2nd World Congress on Friday November 11, 2016. Talking about tribute on 28th March Tuesday, comrade Ahmed Kathrada, who spent 26 years in prison, many of them alongside his close friend Nelson Mandela, for resisting the apartheid system of white minority rule in South Africa, died in Johannesburg. He was 87. Delegates recalled with nostalgia the great sacrifices of the Ahmed Kathrada and other 1963 Rivonia accused such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisuli to the liberation of the African continent from colonialism. This year marks the 5th anniversary of the formation of our global union from the old three labour federations namely .IMF, International Metalworkers’ Federation; ICEM, International Federation of Chemical, Energy and Mine Workers Union and ITGLWF, International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation. Am happy to say that Africa occupies a special position in the record success story of IndustriALL Global Union so far.
The real challenge is to improve on union membership in Africa. First like in Nordic countries where union density is as high as 80 per cent, African affiliates must aggressively launch the campaigns for more recruitment of members into unions. Its to organize, and not Agonize! If possible we must exchange organizers to share experiences. All affiliates must also form their youth councils. Secondly, I suggested to the meeting and was resolved that IndustriALL global union must rise up against xenophobic attacks on immigrant workers. We must deploy poor on poor senseless violence. We must isolate dubious and corrupt politicians who want to shift the blames of their criminal failure on service delivery on foreign workers. We must instead demand for inclusive job-led growth that must create jobs for all Africans and stop the current voluntary slavery through suicidal emigration via the Mediterranean of human Labour. Africa has nothing to learn from the silly self serving Donald Trump’s xenophobic “America (sorry, Russia! /his in law) First” policy. There is nothing to learn either from Theresa May’s double edged Brexit. Africa more than ever before needs inclusive development based on common market, common wealth and common citizenship. Let Africa learn from China which has kept 1.5 billion citizens engaged through Double digit growth rate, mass job led inclusive industrialization and development. We must counter xenophobia with demand on our leaders for sustainable industrial policies in line with IndustriALL goal of sustainable industrial policy. It was resolved that on May 25th being Africa Day all IndustriALL affiliates must lead the campaign for inclusive development and against all forms of xenophobia which we must also see as act of terrorism.
IndustriALL had long resolved that freedom, solidarity and justice are values that apply to all and have to translate into an attitude of respect, recognition and dignity towards foreigners. We continue to wage our efforts to prevent exploitation of refugees and all migrant workers in supply chains using our global leverage through governmental, intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Lastly we resolved to resist neoliberal policies that say government has no business with business. On the contrary we made the point that the art of governance in developing economies like ours is a serious business. Our adopted political Resolutions in Rio also called on IndustriALL to continue fighting for an economic model based on rights, fairness and dignity, and supported by strong trade unions. As unionists we must not accept any economic agenda that is not consistent with the constitutions with which presidents and prime ministers took the oaths of offices. Most African constitutions call for balanced and state led development planning not privatization, sales of common wealth and wholesale liberalization of trade which has led to lowering of tarriffs and in most cases legitimized smuggling which has in turn led to closure of factories. Africa cannot develop without sustainable Visions and Development planning. China is implementing its 10th fifth Development plan. Commendably countries like Tanzania and Kenya had national Visions.
Issa Aremu mni
