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By Lance Guma
25 November 2009
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on Parliament to lead an inquiry into the police shooting of striking workers at Shabanie Mine. In September riot police shot and injured 3 workers at the mine, following a demonstration by over 2000 of them over unpaid salaries.
Co-Home Affairs Minister Giles Mutsekwa announced last week that a board of inquiry would be set up to investigate and that police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri would be required to recommend people to a board that would carry out the probe.
Not surprisingly this has failed to placate the union, who want an independent body to deal with the matter. Acting ZCTU Secretary General Japhet Moyo argued that ‘the involvement of these figures is tantamount to them handpicking people to investigate their conduct. Our calls for an inquiry did not border on the shootings alone, but the ZCTU also wanted circumstances leading to workers not being paid since January 2009, probed.’
Even after the shooting incident mine management proceeded to harass and intimidate workers, while scores were summarily dismissed. Moyo said although the ZCTU welcomed the inquiry only Parliament could ensure a ‘wholesome approach to the matter’ and probe both the shooting and management of the mine.
Shabanie Mine was seized from businessman Mutumwa Mawere using controversial anti-corruption legislation in 2004. The government claimed his companies owed the state huge sums of money, something Mawere has vigorously challenged in court. Since then the administrators have been accused of asset stripping and running down the mine. The non-payment of workers salaries is said to be one of the symptoms of the rot that has set in at the company.
Meanwhile the mine shooting is one of many incidents that have highlighted the trigger happy nature of the police force. In August 2001 heavily armed riot police and soldiers shot into a crowd of 4000 workers who were on strike at the state owned Ziscosteel iron and steel company. Three workers, Samuel Masiyatsva, Never Daniels and Joshua Zimbwa died instantly, another two succumbed to injuries later on, while 22 others were seriously injured.
The ZCTU wrote to Mugabe demanding the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry into the shootings but nothing was done. The union accused Ziscosteel of trivializing the shooting and not doing anything to have it investigated. But because of pressure from the Iron and Steel Workers Union of Zimbabwe and the widow of Masiyatsva, who took the matter to court, a High Court judge later ruled in their favour during a compensation claim.
The court ordered the Zimbabwe National Army and Commissioner of police to compensate her. Highlighting the impunity and scorn for the law Raymond Zvoushe, the army officer who shot Masiyatsva through the back of the head, did not even bother to turn up for the trial.
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