COSATU mourns the passing of former ZCTU President Comrade Lovemore Matombo

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) expresses its profound and deepest condolences at the news of the passing of iconic labour leader, Comrade Lovemore Matombo – Former President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), on Monday 27th November 2020, at his Greendale home in Harare.

The passing of Comrade Matombo, a gallant leader of worker’s rights and an accomplished international leader, represents a great loss for Southern Africa, and the continent at large.

The late Matombo was well-known for being an articulate front-runner and clear thinker. He demonstrated this through how he led the glorious movement of the ZCTU until 2011, which he did whilst simultaneously leading the Communications Union. He will be remembered for his progressive understanding of dialectical materialism in articulating, and locating working class struggles. His May Day speeches served as oxygen to the workers’ struggle and were a constant source of inspiration and mobilisation to the movement in the country.

The African trade union movement has lost a hero par excellence, a democrat and a towering figure in the fight for democracy in Zimbabwe. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Comrade Matombo’s family. May his revolutionary soul rest in eternal peace.

Aluta Continua!

Sonia Mabunda-Kaziboni (Cde)

International Secretary

Cosatu Head Office

Tel:  011 339 4911 |  010 291 1335 (ext)

Cell: 072 535 1577Email:sonia@cosatu.org.za