Zimbabwean unions win court victory

News from the ZCTU

Court victory for trade union leaders

29 March 2007

On the eve of major strike action over the state of the economy, and as Robert Mugabe's regime faces increasing pressure from the domestic opposition and international community over his autocratic rule, Zimbabwean trade unionists have something to celebrate.

After a long-running court case, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions Secretary General, Wellington Chibebe; Elijah Mutemeri, the Informal Economy desk Coordinator; and Vimbai Mushongera, the Informal Economy Administrator have been found not guilty of flouting Exchange Control regulations.

This major victory comes after the State failed to prove its case.

The ZCTU Laywer Alec Muchadehama had submitted that according to Section 198 (3) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (Chapter 9:07) there is provision that if at the close of the case there is no evidence that the accused committed the offence charged in an indictment, summons or charge, or any other offence of which might be charged thereon, a verdict of not guilty should prevail.

He further submitted that the evidence adduced by the prosecution has been so discredited as a result of cross examination and is so unreliable that no reasonable tribunal could safely convict on it. The State had also called only three witnesses whose evidence did not corroborate and failed to connect the three accused to the alleged offence.

The Magistrate agreed with the above submissions and set the three free saying they had no case to answer.

The case related to funding for the ZCTU's informal economy work, provided through the Commonwealth Trade Union Council.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber welcomed the decision, saying:

'Zimbabwe's trade unions have nothing to answer for except defending the poorest sections of society who work in the informal sector. Robert Mugabe, however, must answer for the damage he has done to the economy, the poverty he has forced on informal economy workers and his repression of trade unions.'