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Appeal for respect of trade union rights in Zimbabwe
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
November 09, 2005

http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991223013&Language=EN

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

Fax: 263.4.795523 / 708540

GS-AF/PF 9 November 2005

Dear Mr President,

Appeal for respect of trade union rights in Zimbabwe

The ICFTU has learnt with utter shock and dismay the reaction of your government to the ZCTU-led peaceful demonstration yesterday aimed at highlighting, amongst other pressing issues, the ever growing poverty and high unemployment. Workers worldwide are at pains to reconcile the action by the police to proceed instead at arresting over 200 demonstrating workers and their leaders for what is considered a legitimate action by trade unions in line with internationally accepted norms and practices.

Mr President, the ICFTU appeals to you for your prompt intervention for the full respect of trade union rights, the immediate release of all detained trade unionists and urgent initiatives to involve the trade union movement in serious talks aimed at reaching a consensus on the issues raised by the ZCTU.

The ICFTU would also like to draw your kind attention to the abuse that is being made of the provisions under the Public Order Security Act (POSA), which seriously undermines freedom of speech and assembly and hence the normal conduct of trade union activities. The ICFTU therefore supports the ever growing call for the abolition of POSA.

We trust, Mr President, that you will act decisively to put a stop to all abuses of trade union rights, open dialogue with the trade union movement and ensure that all laws promote full respect of human and trade union rights.

Yours sincerely,
General Secretary

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