TUC condemns attacks on trade unionists.

HE Mr Gabriel Mharadze Machinga
Ambassador
Zimbabwe House
429 Strand
London WC2R 0JR

date: 18 September 2007

contact: Bandula Kothalawala

direct line: (0) 20 74671257

email: bkothalawala@tuc.org.uk

Dear Ambassador

Assault and Abduction of Trade Unionists

On behalf of the TUC General Council, I write to express our outrage over, and condemn, the assault on the three officials of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) on 17 September 2007 in Harare.

Our information is that Mr Michael Kandukutu, ZCTU National Officer, Tennyson Muchepfa of the National Engineering Workers Union (NEWU) and Mr Justice Mucheni of the Food Federation were abducted by the operatives of the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) at about 12.00 noon on 17 September 2007 while they were distributing the leaflets on the Stay-away. We understand that the three officials concerned have been badly beaten and are being held at the Mbare Police Station. This follows other arrests made last Friday.

The arrest of, and assaults on, trade unionists for organizing activities relating to the exercise of their legitimate rights constitute a gross violation of the ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Moreover, your country, which ratified Convention 98(1998) and Convention 87 (2003), is obliged to observe the workers' rights enshrined in them. These incidents will, no doubt, tarnish the image of your country, further aggravate the economic and social crisis and make national dialogue and reconciliation even more difficult.

We urge you to pass on our deep concern over the safety of the colleagues to your Government, use your influence with the authorities to secure their immediate release and ensure that all Zimbabweans are allowed to exercise their democratic rights without interference from the State. In particular, we urge to press the Government of Zimbabwe not to attack those involved in the Stay-away organised by the ZCTU this week.

I will be attending the demonstration which the TUC and ACTSA are holding outside the Embassy on Thursday, and would welcome the opportunity to hand deliver a letter of protest about the recent actions of the Government of Zimbabwe in announcing a wage freeze if you are available to receive it.

Yours sincerely

Brendan Barber

General Secretary