Zimbabwe union leaders' trial update - 23 June
Hundreds of unionists and human rights supporters gathered outside the Zimbabwean Embassy on the Strand in London today to protest at the scheduled trial of Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.
Protestors gathering at Zimbabwe House in London.
Wearing gags to protest about the curbs on freedom of speech.
Photo mosaic of Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe.
With banners from unions, Amnesty International and ACTSA, as well as a giant photo mosaic made from the pictures of supporters from all around the world, demonstrators talked to members of the public and made their feelings clear to Embassy staff, who held a conversation through a firmly locked door with TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber and Kate Hoey MP, as they delivered a letter to the Ambassador.
The trial in Zimbabwe has been postponed until 30 July, after prosecutors and the magistrate failed to attend the trial, leaving the defendants to wait over three hours to find out that they would not face trial yet. Bail conditions of no public gatherings have been kept in force until the new trial date, further denying the men their human rights to free expression for another month, in an attempt to keep them quiet about the worsening situation in the country.
Case studies and projects (300 words) issued 23 Jun 2008
