Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Zim denies entry to US unionists
Mail & Guardian (SA)
September 23, 2006

http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/&articleid=284797

The Zimbabwean government denied entry on Friday to members of a five-strong trade union delegation from the United States, the United States embassy in Harare said.

"We strongly condemn the government of Zimbabwe's decision today to deny entry to a delegation from the United States Coalition of Black Unionists (CBTU)," the embassy said in a statement.

"The delegation was denied entry at the last moment by the government, which claimed that the visit was unacceptable."

The delegation had arrived at Harare's international airport from South Africa for a visit scheduled "months ago" but was turned away and forced to return to Johannesburg, the embassy said.

The CBTU represents black workers within the trade union movement in the United States and its delegations are frequent visitors to African nations. A delegation last visited Zimbabwe in May 2005.

"The CBTU delegation had informed the Zimbabwe government of its intended visit, received visas, and scheduled meetings with a variety of government, labour and civil groups," said the embassy.

The decision to bar entry to the unionists comes after the arrest earlier this month of around 30 prominent members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) as they tried to lead a series of anti-government protests.

"Clearly the Zimbabwean government's decision not to honour the delegation's visas is the result of events of September 13, when security forces brutally suppressed planned peaceful demonstrations by the ZCTU.

"This transparent attempt to deflect international attention from the vicious beatings is itself an example of the Zimbabwe goverment's repression and of its fear of the truth," the embassy charged.

No comment could be obtained from Zimbabwean authorities, but a ZCTU spokesperson confirmed the incident.

"Even the presence of US ambassador [Christopher] Dell at the airport could not help to save the situation," said Mlaleli Sibanda.

The US government has been a frequent critic of the regime of President Robert Mugabe. Ambassador Dell was last year warned by the government against "meddling with Zimbabwe's affairs" after he made allegations of corruption.

Meanwhile, the European Union said it was "deeply concerned" by the assaults on the ZCTU members.

The EU called for an investigation into the assaults, after which some of the demonstrators needed medical attention, and urged the Zimbabwe government to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the country's citizens.

Zimbabwe is reeling from runaway inflation, record unemployment and acute shortages of food, fuel and imports, along with an HIV/Aids epidemic that kills at least 3 000 people a week. The agriculture-based economy collapsed after the seizure of thousands of white-owned commercial farms began in 2000.

The main political opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change, has called for civil disobedience and street protests against deepening economic hardships but the fractured party has given no programme of action. - Sapa-AP, AFP

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP