ZCTU and NCA leaders arrested by police

By Tichaona Sibanda
08 November 2005

Over 150 trade union activists were picked up by the riot police in Harare on Tuesday after a protest march to ‘remind the government and employers that workers are hungry, angry and tired’.

Those arrested included Zimbabwe Congress of trade Unions President Lovemore Matombo and secretary-general, Wellington Chibhebhe. There are reports police are hunting down other labour union leaders, while others are reported to have gone into hiding.

National Constitutional Assembly Chairman, Lovemore Madhuku has also been thrown behind bars after he turned himself in to the police. Authorities have since charged him for inciting violence and will appear in court on Wednesday.

Heavily armed police arrested hundreds of demonstrators on Tuesday, breaking up a march by the country's main labour union to protest against rising poverty.

Protesters had assembled for the start of the march in the central business district of the capital Harare when police moved in and piled hundreds of them into trucks.

Speaking from his police cell in Harare, ZCTU secretary-general Wellington Chibhebhe said he was happy that people in Zimbabwe heeded their call to complain to the political elite that they have forgotten the country’s workers.

The ZCTU boss said close to 150 demonstrators were being held in cramped and filthy cells at the Law and Order section of the Harare Central police station.

Most of those arrested sang songs and waved tiny placards before police moved in. Journalists watched the drama from a safe distance for fear of arrest under Zimbabwe's draconian press laws.

A witness in Harare told Reuters that those arrested continued to sing in the police van as it drove off. Organisers of the Harare march had intended to present a petition to the labour ministry. The situation in other cities was not immediately clear.