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ZCTU condemns the arrest of four leaders in Gweru
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
August 05, 2004

The ZCTU leaders, Wellington Chibebe, Secretary General, Lucia Matibenga, Vice President, Sam Machinda, Central Region Vice Chairperson and Trimothy Kondo, Advocy Coordinator, were arrested under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) Section 19 Subsection 1B on conducting a riot, disorder or intolerance.

The four leaders were attending a ZCTU workshop on the report back on the following topics; High levels of Taxation, AIDS levy, National Social Security Authority (NSSA) the workshop was also to give feed back on the proceedings of the June ILO annual conference.

Initially the leaders were accused of holding the workshop without Police clearance but the charges were later changed during the day. Trade Unions are some of the organisations exempted from seeking police clearance when holding meetings POSA section 46,(j).

During the afternoon the 4 leaders were finger printed and gave warned and cautioned statements but it
is not clear whether they will be released or detained as the police are taking their time to press clear charges.

It is this over zealous and uninformed action by police, which is an affront to the freedoms of Association and assembly. The ZCTU as a bonafide Trade Union deserves its rights to operate freely.

The action by the police is a deliberate attack on the rule of law they are supposed to protect. This is high time the ZCTU be left alone to do its work.

Mlamleli Sibanda
Information Officer

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