by James Parks, Jul 3, 2008

With its two leaders still awaiting trial, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has condemned the continuing violence and intimidation of union members in the country as the government of discredited President Robert Mugabe tries to hold on to power. The violence against union members is taking place within a countrywide surge of brutality against Mugabe opponents. 

The AFL-CIO Solidarity Center, along with the international labor movement, is supporting Stand Up for Zimbabwe, a global campaign to end violence in Zimbabwe and show solidarity with its people. 

The ZCTU says members of Mugabe’s ruling party orchestrated a national campaign of intimidation, with union members as major targets, to ensure he would win the June 27 presidential runoff. Mugabe was the only candidate in the race. His opponent had withdrawn, saying the election could not be fair because of Mugabe’s reign of terror.

The ZCTU, which had issued a series of demands to make the election fair, declared that the presidential runoff was “neither free nor fair” and refused to accept the outcome.

The two leaders of ZCTU are still facing a trial. In May, the Zimbabwean government released on bail Wellington Chibebe and Lovemore Motombo, the secretary general and president, respectively, of the ZCTU. They are charged with “inciting the public to rise against the government and communicating falsehoods.”   

They were detained for questioning after Chibebe, winner of the AFL-CIO’s 2003 George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award, told a May Day rally in Harare that post-election violence was increasing. As a condition of their bail, Chibebe and Motombo are not allowed to “address any political gathering until this matter is finalized,” says the judge. Their trial, which originally was set for June 23, has been postponed twice and now is scheduled for July 30.  

Meanwhile, Mugabe’s thugs viciously attacked other union leaders. Just prior to the presidential runoff, the ZCTU chairman in Chivhu was beaten by militia from Mugabe’s party. His hand was broken, and he is currently seeking medical attention. He was beaten after the militia questioned why he wears ZCTU T-shirts and attends ZCTU meetings.

In other serious incidents that occurred just days before the June 27 election:

• Some 46 members of the General Agriculture Plantation Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe, a ZCTU affiliate, sought shelter in Harare, the capital city, after being beaten up by youth militia.
• The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) closed its office after its officials were harassed. Two carloads of thugs visited the home of General Secretary Raymond Majongwe, but fortunately he was not home at the time. Others threatened the wife of another PTUZ officer, claiming they wanted to take her to “a funeral.”
• ZCTU councilor Rebecca Butau was also seriously beaten and had to seek medical attention. Her attackers said they were looking for David Zunde, another union official from the food industry. Zunde is currently in hiding.

 Says Guy Ryder, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation:   

The actions of Robert Mugabe and those who have taken part in this vicious campaign have resulted in a huge setback for Zimbabwe. The challenge is now before the international community, and in particular the leaders of all Southern African countries, to refuse to recognize this illegitimate election sham.

They need to make it totally clear to Mr. Mugabe and ZANU-PF [the ruling party] that nothing except full respect for democracy and the rule of law can be accepted.

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