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More than 300 informal traders arrested in Bulawayo
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
July 06, 2006

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) informs you that more that 300 informal traders were arrestedand are being detained by the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Bulawayo for demonstrating against Police brutality on informal traders.

Police from the ZRP and Municipality Police have been arresting informal traders in and around the city and confiscating their wares despite the fact that the vendors are operating from designated points alocated by the City Council Authorities.

The informal traders have never been given the chance to do business in the city of Bulawayo ever since the operation clean up last year.

It is the informal traders' contention that they were allocated stalls in the city to do informal trading by the cirty Council of Bulawayo but they are now no longer allowed the opportunity to use the stalls for business. The traders even have a court order interdicting the police from harrassing them and confiscating their wares. It seems the City Council only now wants the traders to do business on Saturday and Sundays only.

More than 500 traders had successfully marched to the City Hall where the offices of the City Council are when they were rounded up by the riot squad with the help opf Municipal police, for allegedly demonstrating without police permission.

More that 300 people including Edward Manning the Bulawayo Secretary for the upcoming traders association, were arrested and are being detained by the police.

The traders are members of the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations which is a partner of the ZCTU.

A lawyer from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has already been instructed to represent the traders.

Visit the ZCTU fact sheet

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