BY JAMES MUTASA

Obey Svinurai, a Young Workers Chairperson of the National Union of Metal and Allied Industries in Zimbabwe (NUMAIZ), has been elected as the vice secretary of IndustriALL Global Union youth structure for the African Region.

Svinurai will deputies Lesedi Seboni of South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) while Kevin Ayemhenre of Steel and Engineering Workers’ Union of Nigeria chaired the youth structure with Aminate Gaye of Senegal’s SNTIT, Syndicat National des Travailleurs de l’lndustrie Textile (National Union of Textile Industry Workers) his vice.

Tafadzwa Eustace Chidhindi who is a member of the IndustriALL Zimbabwe National Coordinating Committee also serving as a member of the Global Union’s Gender Equality Taskforce, a committee looking at gender issues affecting workers in all affiliates representing Sub Sahara African Region said that the election of Svinurai to the ceremonious position of a vice secretary is not just a mere NUMAIZ achievement but it is a general achievement of all the Zimbabwean Young Workers.

‘As Zimbabwean young workers we have managed to maintain our visibility at the international stage. This important position will help our young workers to broaden their trade union knowledge, not only for their own benefit but for the benefit of all affiliate unions, national structure, country as well as the African region.’ Chidhindi said. 

‘The Zimbabwean IndustriALL affiliates have for a long time enjoyed benefits from the global union and these include fully funded trade union activities such as meetings, capacity building workshops, global exchange programs, organizing and recruitment drives aimed at union building,’ added Chidhindi who is also a member of Zimbabwe Chemicals, Plastics and Allied Workers Union (ZCPAWU).

IndustriALL Global Union is a global union federation founded in Copenhagen on the 19^th of June 2012 represents more than 50 million working people in more than 140 countries, working across chains in mining energy and manufacturing sectors at the global level.

IndustriALL has 8 affiliate unions in Zimbabwe which include NUMAIZ, Zimbabwe Chemicals, Plastics and Allied Workers Union (ZCPAWU), National Union of Clothing Industries (NUCI), Zimbabwe Textiles Workers Union (ZTWU) Zimbabwe Leather, Shoe and Allied Workers Union (ZLSWAWU), Zimbabwe Union of Mine Workers (ZUMW), Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union (ZEWU) and Zimbabwe Diamonds and Allied workers Union (ZDMWU)

A visibly elated Obey Svinurai told The Worker that he intent to use his position to influence all the young workers to be members of trade union.

“I am really grateful for the support l get from the IndustriALL Zimbabwe National Coordinating Committee (IZNCC), NUMAIZ and the ever committed Young Workers mentor Tafadzwa Chidhindi. Elections have gone by so what is left for us is to continue unionized the unorganized young workers out there.” Svinurai said.