News

THE Zambia government has been urged to stop harassing the leadership of UNI finance affiliate, ZUFIAW and the union's General Secretary Ms. Joyce Nonde.

In a protest letter signed by members of the UNI-Africa Executive Committee on 11 July in Dakar and sent to the Zambian Republican President Levy Mwanawasa, the Executive expressed concern that the government's harassment of Ms. Nonde "is aimed at removing her from her union position."

In January this year the Zambian government refused to recognise Ms. Nonde as General Secretary of ZUFIAW after she was re-elected unopposed at the congress.

ZUFIAW has insituted legal proceedings to challenge the goverenment's attempts to form an interim commitee in ZUFIAW and dissolve the union's leadership.

The Executive warned that resorting to endless court cases would only continue to erode social dialogue that should be nurtured between the social partners and urged the Zambian government to understand and accept the role of trade unions in national development.

"We condemn these maneuvers and urge your Excellency to prevail over this matter and ensure that Ms. Nonde is left alone to operate freely as ZUFIAW General Secretary," read the letter in part.

"We have no doubt in her strong leadership qualities and her fearless defense of workers' interests in particular, and the downtrodden in general, which has caused her difficulties with your government."

"We would not like to include you on the list of governments that harass union leaders and suppress workers' rights as doing so will reflect badly on your government," concluded the letter urging the president to make amends.