Clementine Dehwe

I was trained/educated and obtained certificates and diplomas in the following areas; Adult Education and Training, Basic Course for Factory Inspection, Advanced International Training Programme Occupational Safety in Practice, Information and Research, HIV/AIDS Training of Trainers, Child Counseling and Development, Industrial Relations, Business Enterprise Development, Planning for the Social and Economic Impact of HIV/AIDS, Trade Union Training Methodology and Effective participation in Trade Unions.

In 1985 I was employed by the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union (GAPWUZ) as a secretary and then became the organizing secretary in the sugar plantation in Zimbabwe. In 1986 I was appointed as the National Women’s coordinator for GAPWUZ and this position included educating women and encouraging them to participate in trade unions, as the unions were mainly dominated by men. This was a joint programme for GAPWUZ and the IFPAAWU, one of the Global Unions now called IUF. In 1992 I joined the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) as an occupational health and safety training officer. Late 1992 I was appointed HIV/AIDS Coordinator. I was trained in both OHS and HIV/AIDS including Counseling and policy formulation. I participated in the draft of the HIV/AIDS policy for Zimbabwe including the code on AIDS and employment. I participated and represented the ZCTU in various civic committees such as the Community Working Group on Health, tripartite meetings on HIV/AIDS, at national, regional and international level, carried out factory inspections and campaigns on OHS and HIV/AIDS.

I have been working for Global Unions as the HIV/AIDS Campaigns Coordinator since January 2004.