Scores arrested in Zimbabwe
Fifty-three workers, among them labour leaders, were arrested on Wednesday morning October 8, 2003, in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, and provincial cities of Gweru, Masvingo and Bulawayo. Seven of them are women. They were preparing for a protest against economic chaos and human rights abuses. By 10.30 pm that night, they were released into the custody of their lawyers, to return to court at 10 am on Thursday.
Those arrested included Mr Matombo, the ZCTU President, Mrs Lucia Matibenga, the First Vice-President, and many secretaries of affiliated unions. One of those arrested in Bulawayo, Juliana Mudzinganyama, the ZCTU rep of the PTC Union, is pregnant. Two ZCTU youth leaders arrested there, Emmanuel Showo and Wakeup Wanwaita, tried to run away, but were caught and severely beaten. One of them is immobilised.
The protesters were rounded up by heavily armed riot police and made to sit down on the pavement in central Harare before they were taken away in police cars, first to Rhodesville Police Station and later to the Law and Order offices at Harare Central Police Station. This is the intelligence section, notorious for torture.
Riot police have been patrolling the streets of the city centre since early morning on Wednesday.
Eight union leaders were arrested in other cities of Zimbabwe overnight on Tuesday ahead of the planned protest march, Wellington Chibebe president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), said earlier. Mr chibebe vistited Asutralia in August for the ACTU Congress.
"We are protesting against high taxation, high prices of basic commodities, fuel and shortage of transport," Chibebe told reporters.
Prices of basic goods have been going up on a weekly basis in Zimbabwe, where inflation is running at more than one percent a day.
In August the annual rate of inflation was officially calculated at 426.6%, but economists believe the true figure is much higher than that.
Chibebe said the unions were also protesting against alleged human and trade union rights violations by authorities.
Under Zimbabwe's security law, public gatherings and street demonstrations are banned unless permission is obtained in advance from the police.
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-259_1427233,00.html
Send a protest:
Mr Kofi Annan
Secretary-General
United Nations Security Council
NEW YORK NY USA
Fax: +1 212 963 7055
Email: inquiries@un.org
Mrs Florence Chitauro
High Commissioner for the Republic of Zimbabwe
11 Culgoa Circuit
O’MALLEY ACT 2606
Fax: 6290 1680
Hon Alexander Downer
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Fax: 02 6273 4112
Email: A.Downer.MP@aph.gov.au
Draft text - please amend for relevant address.
Drop the charges against ZCTU officers, members
Dear
I write to protest in the strongest terms at the suppression on October 8 of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions’ rally against economic chaos and human rights abuses, and the arrest of 53 union officers and members in Harare, Gweru, Masvingo and Bulawayo.
The right to assemble and to free speech are basic human rights recognised in Zimbabwe’s laws as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I call on the Zimbabwe government to drop the charges against the ZCTU officers and members, release all those still held afte the June general strikes, and immediately begin unconditional talks with the Movement for Democratic Change to return Zimbabwe to democracy and the rule of law, and begin national reconstruction.
Yours sincerely,
Zimbabwe Information Centre Inc, PO Box K824, Haymarket NSW 1240, Australia. www.zic.com.au info@zic.com.au
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