lgbti workers

My name is Marvellous Tawomhera and I am the current National Young Workers Chairperson at the Zimbabwe Catering and Hotel Workers Union (ZCHWU), a position which enables me to sit in the National executive council. The ZCHWU is affiliated with the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF). 

The current Zimbabwe constitution under section 78 explicitly prohibits same sex marriages and offers zero protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Section 73 of the criminal law criminalizes sodomy especially with regards to men. Both sections are silent on consensual same sex relationships as well as lesbians.

However this does not mean the LGBTI community is nonexistent.

Currently, as a collective, we have managed to come up with the ZCHWU LGBTI committee which deals with shop floor issues concerning employees within the community. I am delighted to announce that it has so far received unexpected support even from allies who have an understanding of basic human dignity.

I have always reiterated that we become workers before we decide to disclose our sexual inclination.

What employees do in their personal spaces must not be a yard stick to judge their performance at work places. All members subscribe equally to the financial growth of the union despite their sexual preferences and orientation therefore no one is above the other when it comes to equality, let us respect the rights of the LGBTI members.

Let’s engage on the subject matter openly at work places without stigmatizing anyone.

Let’s offer support to those struggling in the closet.

Let’s advocate for policies that are non discriminatory

#LETLOVELEAD❤️