In Zimbabwe: Three Trade Unionists Arrested During a Peaceful March

Three trade unionists were arrested in Zimbabwe during a commemoration march which took place on 12 September 2009. According to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the peaceful march was organised to commemorate 13 September 2006, when ZCTU leadership and activists were brutally assaulted while in police custody, including the President Lovemore Matombo, Secretary General Wellington Chibebe, 1st Vice President Lucia Matibenga and 2nd Vice President George Nkiwane. The High Court had issued an order allowing the commemoration The police, however, went ahead to disrupt the proceedings. According to the police, they did not have enough human resources to control the crowd. However, hundreds of armed riot police were present on Saturday 12 September 2009. The three activists were arrested but were later released without charge. “The repression of peaceful gatherings in Zimbabwe is unacceptable,” pointed out Guy Ryder, ITUC general secretary. “ Zimbabwe has ratified key ILO Conventions on freedom of association and the right to organise, so it has a clear obligation under international law to allow trade unions the right to freedom of assembly. Trade unionists were arrested and prevented from carrying out their activities peacefully, even as the ILO Commission of Inquiry into violations of fundamental workers rights there is ongoing.” he added.