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NANGO calls for release of trade union leaders
National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations in Zimbabwe (NANGO)
May 13, 2008

The National Association of Non Governmental Organisations representing Non Governmental Organisations operating in Zimbabwe joins the International Trade Union Movement and workers in Zimbabwe in expressing outrage at the arrest, harassment, detention and denial of bail of Trade Union Leaders.

The President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Lovemore Matombo, and ZCTU Secretary General, Wellington Chibebe, were arrested after they had presented themselves voluntarily to the police last Thursday, 8 May 2008, after having been informed that the police was searching for them. The two ZCTU leaders were charged with inciting people to rise against the government and spreading falsehoods about the current political crisis in Zimbabwe. Both ZCTU leaders had given speeches at the May Day celebrations in Harare on 1 May.

NANGO considers the arrests as a blatant affront to democracy and the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms, human and Trade Union rights in Zimbabwe.

The arrests are further testimony of the undemocratic conditions prevailing in Zimbabwe, characterized by the continued use of repressive legislation, the police force and the judiciary to subvert the will of the people and to deny citizens their fundamental freedoms.

Political, human rights, security and humanitarian conditions have severely deteriorated after the March 29 Harmonized Elections due to mounting cases of politically motivated organized violence and torture mostly perpetrated by members of the war veterans, youth militias, police force and army.

NANGO demands the immediate release of the Trade Union leaders and urges broader Civil Society under the banner of the Make Our Vote Count Campaign to join in peaceful non violent social actions to press for the release of Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe and many other political prisoners and prisoners of conscience who are being detained under Zimbabwe's vastly repressive pieces of legislation for asserting their fundamental freedoms of assembly, expression and association.

NANGO further calls upon the relevant institutions of justice and the disciplined forces to give tangible displays of commitment to protect citizens, Civil Society and Trade Union members from further arbitrary arrests, harassment and detention.

Visit the NANGO fact sheet

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