His Excellency Robert G. Mugabe,
President,
Republic of Zimbabwe,
President’s Office,
HARARE, Zimbabwe
Fax: 263 4 79 55 23/ 70 85 40
9 June 2003
Dear Mr. President,
We have been following recent developments in Zimbabwe with serious concern. We note that many people have been subject to attacks and arrest by the police. In some cases, the police have used teargas to dispense ordinary people and also used police dogs to terrorise men and women in streets. There have also been reports of persons being treated in a hospital with gunshot wounds. Several trade unionists have been arrested and severely beaten.
While recognising that Zimbabwe is passing through a difficult situation, this cannot be used to violate human rights. In any case in order to resolve some of the problems, the government requires the active involvement of all the people of the country. We have in the past appealed to political leaders to enter into discussions and dialogue in order to find the way forward collectively. The current way of handling the situation can only deepen mistrust and make it impossible to heal the wounds opened-up as a result of these gross violations of human and trade union rights.
On behalf of the African Regional Organisation of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, representing 15 million organised workers in Africa, we condemn the violations of workers rights. We also appeal yet again to you and to all the parties concerned to enter into serious dialogue and find a solution that will pave way to the restoration of confidence for the parties to work together. It is important to recall that Zimbabweans were commended for having withstood oppression under the settlers’ regime and it is impossible to visualise that the same people can be cowed two decades later.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Kailembo
General Secretary
SEARCH Foundation, Rm 610, 3 Smail St, BROADWAY NSW 2007. Ph: +61 2 9211 4164; Fax: +61 2 9211 1407. Web: www.search.org.au
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