COSATU to engage Mbeki on Zimbabwe deporting their leader

By Lance Guma
24 May 2006

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) says it is considering representations to their government over the deportation of their Secretary General by Zimbabwean immigration authorities. Spokesman Patrick Craven told Newsreel the deportation of Zwelinzima Vavi last week Friday was a fundamental attack on the human rights of all trade unionists in the region and will be challenged. Although the High Court in Harare struck down the deportations of two other unionists from Zambia and Norway, it upheld the barring of Vavi from the country. Government officials argued the COSATU leader was a threat to national security since he led attempts to blockade the border last year over human rights abuses.

COSATU say the accusations are just an excuse. Craven says there is nothing wrong in trade unionists visiting each other and attending congresses. COSATU hope to raise the issue with Thabo Mbeki’s government and hope that this will lead to talks with Mugabe over his government’s behaviour. Although they are not decided on the tactics to adopt in challenging the treatment of Vavi, COSATU say their counterparts in the ZCTU are taking the necessary legal steps to resolve the issue. Meanwhile COSATU say they have called on trade unions worldwide to send solidarity messages to their Zimbabwean counterparts. Craven says COSATU will continue to send delegations to Zimbabwe if invited and that this was part of every trade unions right to freedom of association.

Several media reports have suggested the ban on Vavi by Zimbabwean immigration is now permanent. They say he has been declared ‘persona non grata’ since his presence ‘is a threat to national security.’ Vavi was also deported from the country last year in February 2005 after COSATU tried to send a fact-finding mission ahead of parliamentary elections.