Malawi Municipal Workers Union has elected a new regional executive committee for the North into the National Executive Commitee (NEC) to strengthen workers’ representation and promote labour rights.
The union’s president Grant Mbewe said in an interview on Tuesday that they conducted a two-day orientation to equip new NEC leaders with skills to run the union.
He said: “We conducted elections nationwide to recruit leaders in various NEC positions. This orientation, therefore, seeks to empower them with knowledge and skills to represent and champion the rights of members.”
Mbewe said the leaders are expected to meet members in municipal and district councils to discuss how to address various labour challenges.
“We expect the leaders to discuss with our members how to handle labour disputes. People should only resort to strikes as a last resort, but what is needed is collective bargaining,” he said.
The newly elected Northern Region Workers Union chairperson David Jere pledged to ensure that workers’ grievances are resolved through the right channels.
“I am pleased to be elected as the region’s chairperson. I will ensure that workers’ grievances are heard on time and action is taken,” he said.
During the elections, Jere, from Mzuzu City Council, was elected chairperson Alex Mbawala from Likoma District Council as vice-chairperson and Rashid Nyasulu from Rumphi District Council as secretary with his deputy is Issac Chimphepo from Nkhata Bay District Council.
The meeting also elected Ireen Mseteka from Likoma District Council as treasurer and Chisomo Pheti from Likoma District as women’s desk chairperson
Participants follow proceedings. I Ireen Mseteka
