Police use intimidation and force during first day of ZCTU stayaway

By Tererai Karimakwenda
03 April, March 2007

Zimbabweans in most cities were surprised Tuesday morning by the presence of armed police in their local supermarkets. This was part of the intimidation used by the police on the first day of the two-day stay away, organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). By most accounts many people went to work out of fear and employers were forced to open. But a small number heeded the union’s call to stay home to protest the deteriorating economy that has made life a daily struggle.

Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa said there were disturbances in some high-density areas including Kuwadzana, Budiriro Dzivarasekwa, Mabvuku, Mufakose and Chitungwiza. Small groups of residents tried to block the streets using rocks and rubbish bins and some minibuses were also pelted with rocks. Muchemwa said truckloads of riot police had moved through these areas randomly assaulting anyone on the streets. Several people were arrested but it is not known exactly how many were in custody. This was confirmed by police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena on state television. Our correspondent said the disturbances started Monday night in some areas and intensified Tuesday morning with the increased presence of police.

Tabitha Khumalo of the Women’s Advisory Council of the ZCTU described participation by workers as a “mixed bag”, meaning some went to work and others stayed home. But she said the authorities flooded the streets and shops with both uniformed and plain clothes police teams. She also accused the police of intimidating employers and forcing their workers to show up. Khumalo said some employers were even sent to go collect the workers from home. She stressed that information was difficult to come by and they were still waiting for reports from affiliates.

A Reuters news agency report said a helicopter patrol was used over the capital city while riot police patrolled the streets of central Harare. Our sources said businesses in Bulawayo appeared to be operating as usual. The report also quoted police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena who said four people were arrested in a township after blockading roads and stoning commuter buses carrying people to work.

Khumalo urged Zimbabweans to stay home in greater numbers on Wednesday. Her message to employers was that workers need salaries in line with the poverty datum line otherwise they cannot afford to feed their families. To workers she said: “Only we can liberate ourselves and if we do not we will die anyway while reporting to a job that does not pay enough.”
Meanwhile in South Africa, about 400 activists from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) held a protest march in Johannesburg in a solidarity with the ZCTU. COSATU activists, who have a reputation for being radical and passionate, held placards which read "Hang Mugabe", "Mugabe must repent or perish", "We want guns now to blow out Mugabe's head" and "Mugabe I will kill you in person." Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande addressed the crowds. COSATU plans to march on Wednesday as well.