Union leader held

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary-general Wellington Chibebe was detained by Harare police on Wednesday, local media reported. Chibebe was held for two hours and quizzed on recent ZCTU-led job stayaways. No charges were laid against him, but police promised to get back to him if there were any further developments, the ZCTU said.

The leader was picked up from his union offices and asked how stayaways - the last of which was staged by Zimbabwe’s workers only last week - were being organised, the people behind them and the structures of the ZCTU. The police also questioned Chibebe on the political affiliation of the ZCTU and his own. The government has accused the ZCTU of being allied to the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

“We are disturbed by this action by the police in so far as they question the political affiliation of myself and the union. We hope this is not aimed at undermining the activities of the ZCTU,” Chibebe said. Meanwhile the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)and the German Confederation of Trade Unions (GCTU) have reportedly written to President Robert Mugabe condemning what they said was the government’s persistent violence against Zimbabwean trade unions.

“We also wish to register our strongest protest at the deteriorating trade union and human rights situation, as well as the economic, social and political crisis in Zimbabwe which continues to take a heavy toll on the majority of the people,” they said. They said they fully supported the ZCTU in the successful stayaway held last week against the fuel hike and the government’s mismanagement of the economy.