ZCTU protests to go ahead despite threats and arrests

By Tererai Karimakwenda
12 September 2006

Peaceful demonstrations organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and scheduled for Wednesday, September 13th will go ahead despite a massive propaganda campaign by the government and threats designed to derail the highly anticipated event. Lovemore Matombo, President of the umbrella workers organisation, said on Tuesday threats against the ZCTU were typical of the government’s response whenever workers disagree with official policies. Matombo urged workers to participate or die of hunger anyway and political science lecturer Dr. John Makumbe said the time has come for us to liberate ourselves.

Matombo said all the ZCTU leaders would be on the ground with the workers around the country. He also reminded the workers to proceed peacefully to the designated assembly points in every city. Regarding adverts against the protests which appeared in the government controlled media outlets, he said this same campaign was used during the ZCTU reign of Morgan Tsvangirai who is now president of the MDC and those before him. Matombo said the protests had become necessary because negotiations with the government and employers via the Tripartite Negotiating Forum had yielded no results.

A statement released by the MDC said the party fully supports the ZCTU protest given that the working people of Zimbabwe who belong to the ZCTU are the core constituency of the opposition party. In this regard, the MDC and its members will take part in the workers' action. As for the government threats the MDC statement said: “We are however aware that the dictator wants to unleash violence through the use of state security agents, the notorious Green Bombers and other repressive agents. We condemn the regime's perennial desire to assault our rights to freedom of expression and movement. Violence and military repression cannot stop an idea whose hour has come. In our view, the hour of change is now.”

Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe Dr John Makumbe said only Zimbabweans have the power to bring change in the country. He explained that Thabo Mbeki, George Bush and Tony Blair were not the ones that would liberate us. The outspoken political commentator added that there is a cost for freedom (Rusununguko rwuno mubaiwo) and that even those currently in power were once beaten and jailed themselves. Makumbe added that he was willing to pay the price and as leaders in the community this was their duty.