Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has called for an inclusive economic dialogue that incorporates the country`s working class.
This comes at a time when sections of the Zimbabwean community, including churches, have called for talks between the two major political parties – ZANU-PF and MDC to resolve the national crisis.
The Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) which includes the ruling ZANU-PF and smaller opposition parties that contested last year’s polls have not yielded any tangible results, with the generality of Zimbabweans continuing to suffer.
This came out during the elective national congress held last week in Gweru.
ARTUZ resolved at their congress held in Gweru last week to lobby the government to craft consistent pro-poor macro-economic policies.
“On the economic meltdown and the ongoing dialogue among political players, there is a need to lobby government to craft consistent pro-poor macro-economic policies unlike diabolic austerity measures.
“Congress called for an inclusive economic dialogue incorporating the working voices,” said the union.
Speaking to CITE, ARTUZ President, Obert Masaraure said the ongoing negotiations under POLAD are not a solution to the current crisis.
“The bogus negotiations under POLAD are not a solution to the current crisis. We demand an economic dialogue in which organised labour is involved so that we collectively come up with a plan which promotes the production and fair remuneration of the working class,” said Masaraure.
In addition, the union criticised plans by the Zanu PF government to amend the constitution.
“There is a need to lobby the parliament to resist the bill that gives more powers to the executive. The union shall also be carrying out public awareness programs on the effects of giving more executive powers to the President and push for the referendum before the enactment of the proposed amendment,” said Masaraure.
