By Mafa Kwanisai Mafa
THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and the Zimbabwe National Stu- dents’ Union (ZINASU) were once heralded as bastions of hope for workers and students, embodying the struggles for justice, equality and empowerment.
However, their respective journeys reveal a disturbing narrative of opportunism, ideological betrayal and co-option by foreign interests. These organisations, instead of championing the pan-African cause, have become complicit in advancing neo-liberal agendas that undermine Zimbabwe’s sover- eignty and the aspirations of its people.
The ZCTU’s transformation from a powerful workers’ voice to a neo-liberal accomplice is both tragic and instructive. One of the most glaring examples of this betrayal is its refusal to support Zimbabwe’s land re- form. This revolutionary initiative, launched in 2000, sought to correct historical injustices by redistributing land from few white commercial farmers to the black majority. For many workers, land reform represented an opportunity to reclaim their heritage and achieve economic independence.
Yet the ZCTU chose to align itself with commercial farmers, effectively defending the privileges of a white minority over the aspirations of the black working class.
This stance betrayed the very constit- uency the union was meant to represent, exposing its alignment with a neo-liberal ideology that prioritised private property over collective justice.
Equally disturbing was the ZCTU’s silence on the devastating sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western nations. These sanctions, framed as tools to pressure the Government, disproportionately affected ordinary citizens. Factories closed, public services deteriorated, and workers bore
the brunt of the economic malaise. Yet, the ZCTU failed to mount a robust opposition to these sanctions, tacitly supporting mea- sures that plunged its members into deeper poverty. This silence underscored the union’s complicity in advancing an agenda that serves foreign interests rather than the needs of Zimbabwean workers.
The ZCTU’s entanglement with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and its successor, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), further illustrated its com- promised position. Founded in 1999 with significant input from the ZCTU, the MDC pursued a neo-liberal policy characterised by privatisation, deregulation and austerity measures. These policies were antithetical to the interests of the working class, yet the ZCTU lent its organisational strength to the MDC, and now the CCC, abandoning its mandate to protect workers.
This alignment not only highlighted the ZCTU’s ideological betrayal but also underscored its role as a vehicle for Western-backed regime change push in Zimba-bwe.
The CCC, as the rebranded MDC, continues this trajectory, maintaining the support of the ZCTU while advancing policies that benefit external interests at the expense of Zimbabwe’s sovereignty.
The source of the ZCTU’s ideological drift can be traced to its funding. The Na- tional Endowment for Democracy (NED), a US organisation with ties to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), has been a key benefactor.
NED’s history of supporting opposition movements to destabilise governments deemed unfriendly to US interests is well documented. Its funding of the ZCTU exposes the union’s entanglement with imperialist agendas and its abandonment of pan-African principles. The ZCTU’s leadership, instead of strengthening the union’s capacity to address workers’ grievances, has diverted resources towards political activities that align with Western regime change objectives.
For example, the ZCTU’s prominent involvement in the anti-Government protests of 2007 and 2019, which coincided with international pressure campaigns against Zimbabwe, underscores its role as an instrument of external manipulation.
Similarly, ZINASU has strayed far from its founding mission of defending students’ rights and promoting accessible education.
Since the late 1990s, ZINASU has been co-opted by opportunistic elements who have used the union to advance regime change agendas.
In 1999, the union began receiving significant financial support from foreign entities, such as NED. These funds were ostensibly intended to support student activism but were often directed towards destabilising tertiary institutions and fomenting an-
ti-Government sentiment.
Under this guise, ZINASU has orchestrated strikes, boycotts and protests that have disrupted academic calendars and undermined the education system. While the rhetoric has centred on student welfare, the actions have consistently prioritised political agendas over genuine academic concerns.
ZINASU’s alignment with the MDC and its evolution into supporting the CCC un- derscores its role in advancing neo-liberal agendas. The union has consistently mobilised students as foot soldiers for these opposition parties, prioritising political campaigns over academic stability.
This partnership has transformed ZINASU from a student advocacy organisation into a tool for foreign-backed regime change efforts.
For example, recent ZINASU-led protests have coincided with CCC rallies, revealing a coordinated effort to destabilise institutions of higher learning while bolstering opposition momentum.
In 2023, ZINASU’s leadership openly collaborated with CCC leaders to organise demonstrations under the pretence of addressing rising tuition fees. These protests quickly evolved into anti-Government rallies, revealing their true political motives.
A troubling pattern among ZINASU lead- ers is their use of the union as a springboard for personal gain. Many have leveraged their positions to secure scholarships and asylum in Western countries, abandoning their constituencies in the process. This opportunism reveals the true nature of ZINASU’s leadership — self-serving individuals who exploit the union for personal advancement while leaving ordinary students to bear the brunt of their disruptive actions.
Notable examples include former ZINASU executives who have openly aligned with the CCC, using their union credentials to secure platforms in Western media and policy circles. In recent years, ZINASU leaders, such as Takudzwa Ngadziore, have used their roles to lobby international organisations, including the EU and Amnesty International, for funding and asylum opportunities, often exaggerating claims of persecution to secure these benefits.
In recent years, ZINASU has expanded its neo-liberal machinations to include partnerships with international NGOs that promote regime change narratives. These NGOs, often funded by the same Western entities that support the ZCTU and CCC, have facilitated training programmes for student activists, equipping them with strategies to disrupt institutional governance under the guise of promoting democracy.
This influx of external funding and influ- ence has further alienated ZINASU from its grassroots base, turning it into a vehicle for foreign interests rather than a champion for students.
Workshops and training sessions held in countries like South Africa and Botswana have equipped ZINASU members with tactics to amplify dissent on social media, further entrenching their focus on political destabilisation rather than academic advocacy.
The betrayal by ZCTU and ZINASU must be understood within the broader context of imperialist strategies to undermine revolutionary governments in Africa.
Zimbabwe’s land reform and its broader liberation ethos pose a direct challenge to neo-colonial interests. Organisations like the ZCTU and ZINASU, when captured by foreign interests, become instruments of subversion, working against the very principles of justice, sovereignty and self-determination that define the pan-African struggle.
Reclaiming the integrity of these organisations requires a return to the revolutionary ethos of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle. The ZCTU and ZINASU must rediscover their commitment to workers and students, rejecting foreign interference and prioritising the needs of their constituencies.
Zimbabwe’s history demonstrates that true liberation comes from within, driven by the collective will of its people. The betrayal by these organisations serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance against opportunism and imperial subversion. Only through unity and pan-African solidarity can Zimbabwe fully realise the promise of its liberation.
Today, the ideological battle lines are clearer than ever. The CCC’s reliance on ZINASU and ZCTU as mobilisation tools highlights the continuity of the neo-liberal agenda in Zimbabwean politics. Both organisations must confront their historical betrayals and reorient themselves towards advancing the cause of their respective constituencies.
As Zimbabwe continues to face economic challenges and external pressures, a genuine commitment to pan-Africanism and revolutionary principles is essential for rebuilding trust and achieving sustainable progress for all Zimbabweans.
