The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called upon all workers, formally employed and those in the informal sector, to come together and confront the government in protest over slave wages.
ZCTU secretary-general Peter Mutasa scoffed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s remarks that people should not pine for meat but rather eat vegetables for their health. Said Mutasa:
The issue that is bringing us all together as people is that of hunger. Every person who is working in this country must not be forced to eat vegetables and potatoes. A worker must get money enough to purchase foods that constitute a balanced diet.
Our message is that we do not have any other way to go because most avenues have been closed, but we now need to fight oppression and exploitation of workers. We do not have any other choice.
So that is our first message (to workers) that we are going ahead with demonstrations and we are going to maintain our stance of fighting government policies which are oppressing the people.
In January 2019, ZCTU called for a mass stay away after the government had unilaterally hiked the price of fuel by over 130 per cent.
Protests erupted across the country in response to the price hike and Union leaders were subsequently charged with treason.