African workers under the auspices of International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) Tuesday expressed her readiness to begin checks and balances on governments in the continent concerning issues of borrowing.
Speaking at the ongoing ITUC-Africa New Year School, holding in Lusaka, Zambia, the workers said the perennial consequences of the growing debt of countries in Africa are suffocating workers and the living condition of the people.
President of ITUC-Africa, Comrades Martha Molema, in her address said this became imperative due to the injurious effect of the huge debt of countries in Africa which has further weaken the liberation and development of the continent, exacerbating job losses, poverty and hunger.
She further said the decision was part of their resolve to constructively engage governments instead of lamenting, as they advance the transformational agenda of the continent.
In his welcome address, President of the Zambian Congress of Trade Unions, Comrade Blake Malala, said the borrowing affect workers wages as well as citizens in general.
“The borrowing affect the innocent citizens, the future and growth our countries than its benefits. It affects workers’ wages. Workers and the citizens at large are being suffocated by the dire consequences of the loans and the huge debt and this is because they don’t utilize it well.
“We the trade unions in Africa are not going to spend our time lamenting, rather we will begin to carry out checks and balances on our governments. We will not leave the politicians alone handle the affairs of our continent anymore. It is time for African leaders to govern and make Africa prosperous and developed to prevent our young ones from dying in the Mediterranean Sea all the time.
“We are not a body of opposition against the government but we will provide checks and balances in the interest of good governance and a better Africa for all. We will support the government but we will check its policies and ensure it doesn’t suffocate or mortgage our countries and the lives of our children. And this is the message we are sending across Africa to our governments.
“We will not vote in careless leaders that will further put Africa and its citizens into a sinking boat anymore. The debt issue is big. It has affected African governments bargaining process and power.” “Governments across Africa borrow money but how they use the money we don’t know. Time has come for trade unions in Africa to start asking questions on how our governments utilise the monies they borrow.”
