[DEBATE] : "Zim authorities pretend to hate America yet they scramble for the American dollar" - ZCTU

[Dominic Tweedie]

ZCTU's position on dollarization


The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions is perturbed by government
controlled media's deliberate misrepresentation of facts with regards
to ZCTU's position on dollarisation.

The Sunday Mail issue of January 4 2009 refers to ZCTU's Secretary
General, Wellington Chibebe as being opposed to workers being paid in
foreign currency. The ZCTU position is clear and says that all workers
should be paid in foreign currency given the fact that shops are now
selling their goods in foreign currency even those that have not been
licensed to do so. Workers are even forced to pay rentals and fares in
foreign currency. "Government" has just announced that public
hospitals can now charge for their services in foreign currency but
the majority of workers who utilize these hospitals do not earn in
foreign currency.

It seems the Sunday Mail has chosen to misrepresent the ZCTU's
position. The ZCTU is still demanding that "government" should do away
with dollarization and if not, all workers should be paid their
salaries in foreign currency.

The authorities pretend to hate America yet they scramble for the
American dollar. To the ZCTU this is a display of double standards.

We urge, public media to report correct facts and not twist the facts
to suit its agenda.


Gideon Shoko
ACTING SECRETARY GENERAL

7 January 2008