International trade union body ranks Zimbabwe as most repressive

By Tererai Karimakwenda & Warren Moroka
28 October 2005

The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions has rated Zimbabwe the most repressive country in the sub-region, judging by its treatment of trade unions and their leadership.

In a new report that assesses trade union freedom in Southern Africa, the Brussels-based ICFTU says Zimbabwe tops the region in abusing workers’ rights. It is followed in the distance by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Mozambique and Zambia.

Some of the notable actions of oppression directed against Zimbabwe’s trade unions include the continuing harassment, intimidation and arrests of trade union leaders. The report notes that the government had repeatedly arrested Zimbabwe Congress Trade Union leaders Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe since last year.

It also noted the arrest and illegal detention of lower ranking ZCTU officials and the dismissal of ZCTU chairman Matombo from Zimpost, Zimbabwe’s postal service provider. Additional assaults on trade union freedoms included last year’s physical assault of Charles Gumbo, the secretary-general of the Construction Workers Union.

Other attacks that earned the country its leadership position on suppressing trade unions include the attempt on the life of Raymond Majongwe, the leader of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe.

The repeated expulsion of the Congress of South African Trade Unions delegation from the country late last year also contributed towards the country’s worsening human rights violations record. The ICFTU is an international umbrella union that monitors trade union freedoms around the world.