Solidarity with Zimbabwe - International Women's Day speech 2008

Speech by Brendan Barber

TUC General Secretary

8 March 2008 - Check against delivery

Trafalgar Square, 12 noon, Saturday 8 March 2008

Friends, comrades, brothers and sisters,

It is a pleasure to bring greetings from the TUC and the six and a half million workers we represent, and I am proud to offer our solidarity to the Zimbabwean people.

Proud to offer our backing to the international campaign to restore democracy and dignity in Zimbabwe.

And proud, on International Women's Day, to offer our support to the millions of women who are bearing the brunt of the catastrophe in their country.

Let me pay tribute to all those involved in the Dignity Period campaign, who have helped deliver for the poorest and most vulnerable women the fundamental right to a basic standard of feminine hygiene - and let me say how proud I am that trade unions in this country have played a key role in this hugely successful work.

Let me also pay tribute to Action for Southern Africa for coordinating this campaign, and more generally for keeping Zimbabwe firmly in the public spotlight.

And finally let me pay tribute to Lucia and colleagues for making the long journey to be with us today, and for their struggle against inequality, injustice and oppression.

Lucia, Takavafira and Maureen, your bravery, humanity and dignity is an inspiration to us all, and we salute you.

There can be no doubt that we have reached a defining moment in Zimbabwe.

Just three weeks from now, elections will be held that nobody believes will be free or fair.

And as polling day approaches, the Mugabe regime is stepping up its brutal repression of political opponents, with teachers and students the latest victims of the savage crackdown on human and labour rights.

To the members of the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe National Students Union - alongside all those other trade unions and civil society groups being targeted - let me repeat that great labour movement maxim.

An injury to one is an injury to all.

And let that same message go out from every one of us here in this square to every man, woman and child in every part of Zimbabwe.

With each passing day, it is clear the situation in the country is becoming more desperate.

Once a beacon of hope for the African continent, Zimbabwe is now its basket case.

Unemployment stands at massive levels.

Inflation is now the highest in the world.

Basic foodstuffs are in chronic short supply.

Anti-retro viral drugs to treat HIV-AIDS sufferers are virtually non-existent.

And life expectancy has fallen to just 35 years.

The only way this situation can begin to improve is with the restoration of democracy and with the encouragement once again of civil society - including trade unions, student groups, faith groups and women's groups.

Because only when ordinary people are given the basic right to organise collectively - to mobilise against poverty, unemployment and inequality - will true and lasting change be possible.

We in the UK can do our bit to make that happen.

We must continue to press our government to work through the EU to promote peaceful change in Zimbabwe.

We must continue to urge our politicians to put pressure on African leaders not to turn a blind eye to the Mugabe regime.

And we must continue to support initiatives like the Dignity Period campaign.

But we need to do more.

Today, the TUC is launching a fund-raising campaign to put our movement's money where its mouth is.

We have set up an appeal for donations to help rebuild the Zimbabwean trade union movement.

Check the TUC website if you want to know more, but more importantly, ask your union branch, your region and your national union what they can do to help the TUC help the ZCTU.

Solidarity matters, but money matters too.

Our cash will help our Zimbabwean sisters and brothers represent their members, withstand the harassment and violence of the regime, and campaign for change.

It's part of a programme of action we have been discussing with Action for Southern Africa and our affiliated unions over the last few months.

And of course it's not all about money.

Using ACTSA as a bridge, we are about to set up a twinning programme between UK and Zimbabwean unions to strengthen the bonds between our members.

But whatever background we are from - whether we are trade unionists, activists from the women's or students movements, or just concerned citizens - it is up to all of us to keep campaigning, lobbying and demonstrating for change.

Together we must step up our fight against poverty, violence and the brutalisation of women in Zimbabwe.

And none of us should rest until these wrongs are righted.

For what the people of Zimbabwe need most - now more than ever - is our solidarity.

So to the workers, the trade unionists, the students and the women of Zimbabwe, let us say:

Your struggle is our struggle.

You are not alone.

We are with you.

And we will be by your side until freedom, democracy and prosperity are restored once again to your country.

Thank you.