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Condemnation of evictions and demolitions
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
July 18, 2005

His Excellency Robert .G. Mugabe
President
Republic of Zimbabwe
President's Office
HARARE
Zimbabwe.

Fax: 263 4 79 55 23/ 70 85 40

18th July 2005

Dear Mr. President,

Condemnation of Evictions and Demolitions

The African Regional Organisation of the ICFTU, representing over 15 million members, organised by 60 national trade union centres in 47 African countries, has learnt with dismay the forceful evictions of people and demolitions of their houses in Zimbabwe. We are made to understand that your administration is behind these disastrous acts, which have resulted in the death of at least four people and left thousands homeless. The victims of this unacceptable and inhuman treatment are mostly poor workers of the informal economy.

We are disturbed by this sad development, which by every stretch of imagination will aggravate poverty and increase the sufferings of the already impoverished population. It is particularly disheartening when those that are supposed to protect the rights of citizens, turn out to be the very people who flagrantly violate these rights. Shelter is a fundamental human right and destroying it is a gross human rights violation. We therefore join the rest of the world to condemn in the strongest terms these evictions and demolitions.

The ICFTU-AFRO reaffirms its solidarity with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the entire population of Zimbabwe in their opposition to this unfortunate and deplorable situation. The informal economy has provided and continues to provide support to the majority of the working people in Zimbabwe amidst the high unemployment, which is plaguing that country. The evictions and demolitions are eroding every hope of survival, which will make the poverty situation on the ground even worse.

We urge your government to refrain from the indiscriminate evictions and demolitions and to provide the displaced persons alternative shelter facilities with immediate effect.

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Kailembo
General Secretary

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