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The attack on Charles Gumbo in Zengeza
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
March 30, 2004

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) condemns the violent attack on Mr. Charles Gumbo’s family and property in Zengeza 4 in Chitungwiza on Saturday 27 March 2004 by unknown political activists. Mr. Gumbo is the General Secretary of the Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Workers Union and a Trustee of the ZCTU.

A gang of youths, numbering more than fifty, besieged Gumbo’s residence at around 2:00 am on Saturday after scaling the durawall and demanded to see the veteran trade Unionist and former councillor. After ascertaining that Gumbo was not at home, the leaders of the gang then ransacked the house without giving any explanation of what they were searching for while the rest stood guard outside the surrounding yard.

In the process, the gang took away with them, a cell phone, two cell phone chargers a car radio and some food which was in the refrigerator and also ordered the whole family into the toilet where they wanted to lock them in. They later realised that the toilet could not be locked and so decided to take Mr. Gumbo’s wife and three children as hostages and force marched them towards Chitungwiza Hospital were they later released them.

The gang also destroyed the whole house’s window pens and also shattered the windscreen of the car. No reasons were given for the attack but the matter was reported to the police who took a statement from Mrs. Gumbo as Mr. Gumbo was away on ZCTU business.

We also believe that the attack was politically motivated since it came during the violent Parliamentary campaign and needs to be condemned in very strong terms as every Zimbabwean has a right to freedom of association, speech and of cause the right to life.

The ZCTU is worried that the attack on trade unionists continue to escalate without being checked and it is now a cause for concern as no culprits have been brought to book in previous attacks.

Wellington Chibebe
Secretary General

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