THE Concise Oxford Dictionary defines work as “the application of mental or physical effort, to a purpose, the use of energy”.
The working class has always been defined narrowly to mean manual workers and this has served the bourgeoisie and their capitalist masters well.
However, the above proffered definition incorporates every living individual from politicians, leaders in different spheres and walks of life to the general worker, we all work. We apply our mental or physical effort to a purpose, we use energy.
The same dictionary defines authoritarian as favouring, encouraging or enforcing strict obedience to authority, as opposed to individual freedom. It is tyrannical or domineering, favouring absolute obedience to a constituted authority, directives and decrees.
On the other hand, neo-liberalism is an offshoot of neo-colonialism, which refers to the use of economic, political and other pressures to control or influence other countries, especially former dependencies or colonies. Neo itself refers to new, hence, neo-liberalism is a new attempt to recolonise workers in favour of capital.
Take a stroll with me down memory lane. 1981 onwards:
- Came a worker-friendly government, which empowered the labour movement and enacted the Minimum Wage Act and Employment Protection provisions,
- The State was developmental in approach. Public spending in the form of health and education became the envy of Africa,
- Internal political contradictions lead to the Matabeleland and the Midlands genocide. (Alexander, 2001 and Dansereau 2003).
1987
- Unity Accord that sealed Zanu PF’s political hegemony,
- First labour movement was riddled with corruption, embezzlement, maladministration and authoritarianism,
- New look Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions under the leadership of the late Gibson Sibanda and Morgan Tsvangirai came to the stage, (Dansereau 2003).
1988-1989
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
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- Labour movement worked on establishing a Labour Multitude, the critical mass, (Muzondidya 2009).
1990s
- A defining watershed in Zimbabwe’s political economy, (Matombo- Sachikonye 2010).
- International Financial Institutions (IFI), the Bretton Woods institutions pressurised government into adopting the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (Esap), (Saunders 2005).
- Fundamental restructuring of the State, economy and society was undertaken ie social re-engineering,
- The developmental, welfarist State gave in to neo-liberalism and public sector restructuring, which included huge cuts on health and education budgets, (McCandless 2011),
- Esap led to below par growth, high unemployment and surging poverty levels,
- Donors refused to fund the Structural Adjustment Participation Review Initiative (SAPRI)- this was an assessment of the impact of Esap, (Dansereau 2003),
- The World Bank conceded wrong doing, in that the Esap was a project forced on Zimbabwe without local participation on its formulation and implementation stages, (Dansereau 2003),
- Labour movement turned itself into a social movement that embraced the working class in its totality, (Moody 1997),
- Polarisation raised its ugly head as a wedge was pushed between rural and urban actors. (McCandless 2011).
1990s
- About 184 incidents of activism as compared to 38 in the 1980s were recorded,
- Esap led to permanent joblessness and economic insecurity, (Saunders 2001).
2008
- The Zimbabwean dollar collapsed, leading to the introduction of foreign currencies , the US$, the Rand and others, (Central Statistics Office 2008).
2009
- The General Political Agreement brought about the Government of National Unity or the Inclusive one, (Global Political Agreement negotiations 2009).
2013 The July 31 elections have come and gone. Esap number 2 is in the offing, if not in place. Esap number 1 was anchored on trade liberalisation, deregulation, public sector restructuring; it also brought in its train, depressed growth, high unemployment and high poverty levels, (SAPRI 2001).
2014
- The Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa is on record as having said labour laws are too restrictive, thereby stifling employers right to hire and fire. In addition there is strong campaign for “labour market flexibility and productivity linked wages”. Labour market flexibility, to whose favour, of course to capitalism. In a situation where the industry is operating at around 35% of its full capacity and machinery and equipment is outdated, how does one link wages to a non-existent production system? (Budget Address 2014).
- To be continued next Friday
Moses Tsimukeni Mahlangu is the general-secretary for Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers’ Union. He is a labour consultant and arbitrator. Feedback: Email: [email protected] Cell: 0775 547 120 or 0712 864 275