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Zimbabwe Trade Union HQ Raided

International Confederation of Free Trade Unions

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION (ITUC)

Media release

Zimbabwe: Raid on Trade Union Headquarters Ruptures Chances of
Tripartite Dialogue

Brussels, 13 March 2007 (ITUC Media release): The headquarters of the Zimbabwe Trade Union Congress (ZCTU) were today raided by government security forces, as part of a "concerted effort to try and crush all civic organisations" according to ZCTU President Lovemore Matombo. Central Intelligence Organisation officials and police ransacked the premises, assaulted three ZCTU staff members and detained the organisation's Financial Administrator Galileo Chirebvu. While it is believed that Chirebvu was later released, campaign materials in support of a 2-day stay-away planned for 3 and 4 April were removed by police.

The ZCTU had been in discussions with the country's Labour Minister, supported by ministers from other economic portfolios, in an effort to find solutions to the spiraling economic crisis besetting Zimbabwe, with inflation now running at some 1,700%. A preliminary meeting involving government, trade union and employer representatives took place on 12 March to formalise arrangements for a full tripartite meeting tomorrow, however the attack on the trade union offices has shattered prospects for constructive negotiations.

"The ZCTU has consistently shown its desire for dialogue and tripartite discussions to help find a pathway out of Zimbabwe's catastrophic economic and social situation", said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder. "This latest attack by President Mugabe's security forces shows a determination to try and control the situation by force, rather than to work with civil society to put an end to the suffering of millions upon millions of Zimbabweans", he added.

Founded on November 1 2006, the ITUC represents 168 million workers in 153 countries and territories and has 304 national affiliates. Website: www.ituc-csi.org
For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on +32 2224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.