ITF writes to President Mugabe
His Excellency Robert G. Mugabe
President
Causeway
Harare
Zimbabwe
Fax: + 263 4 70 85 40
DC/SH/ic
10 November 2005
Mr. President
Arrest of more than 200 trade unionists
The International Transport Workers’ Federation, which represents 624 unions and over 4,500,000 transport workers in 142 countries, including Zimbabwe, strongly protests at the arrest of around 200 Zimbabwean trade unionists on 8 November 2005.
According to information received by our sister organization the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, police arrested 118 members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) in Harare, and 50 more ZCTU members in other parts of the country. These arrests include:
- General Secretary Wellington Chibebe and President Lovemore Matombo, arrested in the city centre on their way to the starting point of the ZCTU’s anti-poverty march.
- Reason Ngwenya, Regional Vice-Chairman Dzavamwe Shambari, and Regional Officer Percy Mcijo, arrested on 7 November.
The ITF also understands that several trade unionists have been intimidated, including the ZCTU Regional Officer for Mutare, Tambaoga Nyazika, who was threatened by an armed person claiming to be a policeman.
We also understand that 20 people with HIV/Aids are among the arrested and they are kept without access to medication. Women with babies and disabled persons are being held.
The march was organised to protest against poverty, hunger, unemployment, high inflation and high transportation costs. The protesters were calling for proper wages, increased availability of anti-retroviral drugs, a reduction in income tax, and a halt to imports of cheap goods from Asian countries. They planned to deliver a petition to the Labour Minister on these issues. The march lasted only 10 minutes before riot police armed with batons, shields and dogs intervened and arrested 118 participants.
The ITF has also learned that ZCTU officials had contact with Wellington Chibebe and Lovemore Matombo yesterday and that no charges had been brought against them, nor had the police indicated whether or when the arrested ZCTU members would be released. Armed police continue to maintain a heavy presence on the streets of Harare, and before the march they stopped all vehicles with more than one passenger at roadblocks on routes into the city.
The ITF is appalled by the mass arrests of workers peacefully protesting and participating in a legitimate trade union activity to protest for economic and social improvements that are guaranteed under international core labour standards. Furthermore, we are extremely concerned that torture may have been used. The ITF is particularly concerned for the safety of members of the ITF-affiliated Zimbabwe Amalgamated Railwaymen's Union (ZARU): Area Organising Secretary (Eastern) Miss S Moyo and activist Francisca Gurure, who we have learned are both in Chitungwiza and Mutare Police Cells.
The Government of Zimbabwe must - like all other member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) - respect the principle of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining as contained in Conventions 87 and 98. These principles oblige the government of Zimbabwe to refrain from arresting peaceful protesters calling for economic and social improvements.
The ITF urges you, Mr. President, to ensure that a thorough and independent investigation is made into the allegations of torture against some detainees, including Wellington Chibebe, and to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested - especially those with disabilities, those in need of medical treatment, and women with babies. The ITF also urges you to launch an independent investigation into the threats made against Tambaoga Nyazika and urges you to ensure the safety and release of Miss S Moyo and Francisca Gurure.
The ITF joins the ICFTU in informing the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association of the above violations of fundamental trade union rights as part of its pending case against your government.
Yours sincerely
David Cockroft
General Secretary
