COTUZ rules out merger with ZCTU, FFTUZ

COTUZ President Joe Kamutumwa

The Confederation of Trade Unions in Zambia (COTUZ) has ruled out the possibility of merging with the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ).

The Labour Institute of Zambia (LIZ) recently disclosed that COTUZ has been approached with a view of merging with the ZCTU and FFTUZ.

But COTUZ President Joe Kamutumwa says his union wants to have an independent and strong voice on labour matters.

Mr Kamutumwa says despite not receiving any official communication from the two unions on the intended merger, his union has no plans to join in the merger.

He explains that merging with other unions will mean the union’s focus and ideologies will have to change, which he says they are not willing to do.

Mr Kamutumwa adds that COTUZ does not know the reasons for the merger and therefore cannot follow blindly without being told the logical behind it.