Anti Union repression is back in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) Secretary General, Wellington Chibebe was taken into police custody on 14 August, at the Mbudzi, Masvingo road police block, as he arrived back into Harare, after his long holiday weekend visit to his rural home. 30/160806

INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS ICFTU OnLine.

Brussels, 16 August 2006 (ICFTU OnLine): The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions condemns in the strongest possible terms the arrest yesterday, 15 August 2006, of M. Wellington Chibebe, General Secretary of its affiliated organisation, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). It has also reported the case to the International Labour Office for appropriate action.

M. Chibebe was arrested at a roadblock and detained at Waterfalls Police station as he was travelling by car from Masvingo with his family. He was stopped at a roadblock near Waterfalls, where the Police demanded to search his car, supposedly in order to look for cash. The Government is currently campaigning to prevent currency speculation while it is conducting a major monetary reform purportedly aiming at fighting hyperinflation, which currently stands at over 1000%.

At first, Chibebe was accused of resisting a police search. According to ZCTU legal sources, however, the police later deliberately changed the charges to common assault against a police officer so as to make the issue more serious, given his profile.

The ICFTU strongly condemns this arbitrary arrest, which is the latest in a continuous pattern of harassment and repression of Zimbabwe's independent trade union movement. In addition, it also deplores the methods chosen by the government to address the country's financial crisis, which victimises workers and other citizens by confiscating their possessions instead of addressing the root causes of Zimbabwe's dramatic economic situation. Such confiscations are of course illegal and are in the process of being challenged in the courts.

In a letter to President Robert Mugabe, ICFTU has called for an intervention by his Government in order to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Wellington Chibebe and the dropping of all charges against him. It also called on the authorities to order an immediate cessation of repressive measures against the ZCTU, its members, activists, leaders and sympathisers.

Meanwhile, the ICFTU has also written to the Director-General of the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO), asking him to intervene personally with the Zimbabwe Government in order to secure Chibebe's release.

As of today, 16hrs CET, Chibebe was still detained at Waterfalls Police Station.

Below is a letter from the Sharan Burrow, the Presideny of the ACTU. TAKE ACTION by downloading the letter, writing a similar one and emailing it to (Zimbabwe1@iimetro.com.au) or faxing (Fax No. 02 6290 1680) to: Mr Felix Nyamupinga, Chargé d'Affaires Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe

Below is a letter from the Sharan Burrow, the Presideny of the ACTU. TAKE ACTION by downloading the letter, writing a similar one and emailing it to (Zimbabwe1@iimetro.com.au) or faxing (Fax No. 02 6290 1680) to: Mr Felix Nyamupinga, Chargé d'Affaires Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe

Download File:
Letter from Sharan Burrow, President of the ACTU [ rtf ]

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

Last Modified: Friday, 18-Aug-2006 11:44:18 EST
This page: http://apheda.org.au/campaigns/human_rights_in_zimbabwe/news/1155865309_21551.html