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ZCTU leaders tortured & nearly 200 in Police custody
The Daily Catalyst published by Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
September 14, 2006

See the index of articles associated with the ZCTU protest

LOVEMORE MATOMBO, Lucia Matibenga and Wellington Chibebe, the ZCTU president, vice president and secretary general respectively were arrested yesterday and quarantined at the inhuman Matapi Police Station in Mbare, Harare.

The three were allegedly tortured so badly that Matombo and Chibebe failed to wake up to eat their supper yesterday whilst Lucia managed to wake up but was complaining of a severe headache and that she was partially deaf.

Information reaching the Catalyst reveals that Chibebe is believed to have lost much blood due to excessive bleeding, with the ZCTU officials fearing for their leadership's lives.

The Police at Matapi police station were uncooperative to get medical access to the three as they insisted that the three will be treated by a government doctor.

The ZCTU leadership is being tortured for standing for the workers rights, particularly the leveling of wages to the poverty datum line, and the provision of HIV and AIDS care to workers that were contributing to the National Aids Council.

The state's reliance on force as a governance tool may not work to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe. It is our fear that such violence could beget violence and lead to the situation to deteriorate. The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition leadership affirms that the struggle would continue despite the state's belief in violence.

MEANWHILE, the official number of people in Zimbabwe's police cells tally to nearly 200. These include the 103 women activists from the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) that were arrested on Monday, the 11th of September in Harare. ZCTU reports that the official numbers of people arrested in Wednesday's "anti-poverty" protests sum up to 79.

By end of day on Wednesday, several people were reported missing and they are suspected to have been picked up at various points by the Police. This brings the expected number of people in detention beyond 200.

AS PART OF the way forward, various leaders of the civil society remain committed to the process of mass action as a means of resolving Zimbabwe's nagging crisis. It is expected that in the nest few weeks, such mass based protests shall be staged countrywide in a show of displeasure of the state of socio-economic and political affairs in Zimbabwe.

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