Zimbabwean police arrest demonstrators

Zimbabwean police arrest demonstrators

Wellington Chibebe, General Secretary, and Lovemore Matombo, President, of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), were among over hundred people arrested by the Zimbabwean Police in Harare and Bulawayo following protests over the rising cost of living and food shortages on 8 November 2005.

The ZCTU that represents some 30 affiliated trade unions, in close collaboration with civil society organisations, organised the demonstration over the high cost of living, demanding a living wage, a reduction in income tax and anti-retroviral drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The TUC, in a letter to Mr Nicholas Goche, Zimbabwean Minister of Public Service and Labour, called for the immediate release of arrested trade unionists, pointing out that 'The arrest of trade unionists for organising activities relating to the exercise of their legitimate rights is a clear violation of the ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work'. Zimbabwe has also ratified ILO Convention 98(1998) and Convention 87 (2003) and is obliged to observe the workers' rights enshrined in them.

Zimbabwe has gone through a severe economic crisis, mainly due to the mismanagement of the economy by the Mugabe regime. The country, which had been self-sufficient in food in the past, has experienced severe food shortages in recent years and become a recipient of food aid through the World Food Programme. The economy is estimated to have contracted by some 8.2% in 2004. Unemployment remains very high while the rate of annual inflation was around 265% in August 2005. With the rapid depletion of foreign exchange reserves and high oil prices, the country is finding it difficult to pay for its essential imports. Moreover, Zimbabwe has not been able to pay its arrears to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. In February this year, the IMF agreed to allow Zimbabwe another six months to strengthen its co-operation with it before taking measures for the country's compulsory withdrawal. In May 2005, the Government of Zimbabwe launched a 'clean up campaign', which, according to a UN Report, resulted in 700,000 people losing their homes or their livelihoods. In addition, Zimbabwe is one of the countries hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS Pandemic.

The ZCTU President and the General Secretary and others were released two days later following protests from the international trade union movement led by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).