27 June 2003
MDC Encouraged By Cosatu's Signal of Solidarity
The MDC is deeply encouraged by recent press reports alleging that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), at a meeting held on 28 and 29 May, resolved to pressurise for the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Zimbabwe.
"For the millions of people suffering in Zimbabwe, as a result of Mugabe's failed and irresponsible policies, a demonstration of solidarity from a key constituency in South Africa is a welcome boost during a time of perpetual despair. Cosatu was at the vanguard of the struggle for democracy in South Africa and therefore can fully appreciate the suffering of Zimbabweans under Mugabe's tyranny," said MDC spokesperson Paul Themba Nyathi.
"There is now a growing realisation and acknowledgement, at the regional and sub-regional level, that Mugabe's portrayal of the Zimbabwe crisis as one centering on the land issue, is grotesquely misleading and simply deployed for the cynical purposes of political expediency. This has never been a crisis about land, it is a crisis of governance and legitimacy. The hundreds of thousands of workers who took part in recent stayaways were not protesting about land, they were protesting about jobs, food, an end to political violence and a return to democracy and the rule of law".
Workers rights in Zimbabwe have been systematically violated. Politically motivated dismissals and retrenchments and the constant harassment and arrest of trade union leaders underlines the vulnerability of the labour movement under the Mugabe regime.
"After the successful MDC stayway of 2-6 June, the Mugabe regime decided to punish public sector workers by declaring their intention to ban them from engaging in future strike action. Such actions highlight the Mugabe regime's increasing determination to crush workers' hard earned rights," said Nyathi
"As a political party that champions the rights of workers, and one that essentially grew out of the trade union movement, the MDC welcome signals that Cosatu is committed to taking tangible steps to help resolve the Zimbabwe crisis. Although primarily it is up to us as Zimbabweans to resolve the crisis, constructive pressure from our brothers and sisters in Africa will accelerate the end of Mugabe's tyranny and a return of real freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe."
MDC Information and Publicity Department
check the Zimbabwe Information Centre Inc website - www.zic.com.au
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