By Beatific Gumbwanda
In a significant demonstration of worker solidarity, the Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Industry Workers Union (ZSMIWU) is providing essential and comprehensive assistance to its members for burial arrangements, offering a crucial safety net for families during times of grief.
The proactive support was lauded as a hallmark of the exemplary leadership of its Secretary General, Retired Army Captain Sapper Faster Gono.
ZSMIWU, which represents over 9,000 members employed by Tongaat Huletts Zimbabwe (THZ), extended its funeral support services across the nation, reaching members even in distant regions like Mashonaland Central and Matebeleland.
Speaking to TellZim News, Captain Gono, who also serves as the Chairperson of the National Employment Council for the Sugar Milling Industry (NECSMI), said the nationwide coverage ensured that no member is left to face the financial and logistical burdens of a funeral alone.
He elaborated on the union’s commitment saying the programme was designed to alleviate pressure on all members, regardless of their existing insurance status.
“It’s true that we are providing necessary arrangements for helping our members bury their loved ones across the country. Some members have no funeral policies while others do have them, and we offer support to both groups to relieve them of pressure. To facilitate this, we also own a fleet of kombis that we use for transportation to various locations across the nation, ensuring families and members can gather to pay their respects,” said Gono.
The initiative is a testament to the transformative leadership style of Captain Gono, who is known for his strong anti-corruption stance, embodied in his personal motto: “Hate me for hating corruption – Incorruptible Sapper.
His record of driving tangible development within the organizations he leads is well-established.
Prior to his current roles, Gono played a pivotal role in the transformation of the Hippo Valley Productive Sugarcane Farmers Association (HVPSFA) during his tenure as Secretary for Protocol and Security.
In a direct and practical contribution, he sold a house he had acquired from Tony Sarpo to the association for $68,000, providing them with a permanent and stable office headquarters they still use today.
His transformative impact continued when he assumed the role of Chairperson for NECSMI in 2022, succeeding the late Livingstone Mabika.
Gono described inheriting an organization with limited capacity.
“The organization was renting a two-office apartment and had only one employee, Clemence Muparutsa. Despite previously receiving a donation of 90 tons of sugar from THZ for their development, little was accomplished.
“I managed to upgrade the organization, which now has its own premises, vehicles for our three employees, and a variety of office furniture,” said Gono.
He also highlighted that the move from rented dependency to owned assets had greater operational efficiency.
The union’s funeral assistance programme stands as a clear example of this philosophy in action, translating union dues into direct, meaningful support that cushions members from one of life’s most difficult and expensive moments.
