COSATU holds Beitbridge border demonstration
By Lance Guma
05 July 2008

South Africa’s main labour union the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) held a demonstration at the Beitbridge border post Saturday protesting against Robert Mugabe’s regime. Spokesman Jan Tsiane urged continental bodies to intervene in the crisis and help restore democracy in the wake of Mugabe’s one-man election. No incidents were reported during the protests except the arrest of one man who was later released.

Newsreel spoke to Patrick Craven from COSATU who said their federation was opposed to the formation of a government of national unity adding that a transitional authority was the best way forward. Such an authority would be formed using proportional results from the March 29 poll and this body would organize fresh elections that reflect the will of the people.

Earlier in the week the federation slammed the one-man run off election, shortly after Robert Mugabe was sworn in as President on Sunday, and called on African governments to refuse to recognise Mugabe as a legitimate head of state. They also said he should be barred from attending meetings of the African Union or SADC.

‘It would be a disaster for Africa if its highest representative bodies, AU and SADC, were to recognise the outcome of such an 'election' and the Mugabe government as legitimate. We urge the African governments not to recognise the Zimbabwean government and cancel all invitations to it to attend continental and international meetings,’ COSATU said in a statement.