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Zim union warns of more anti-Mugabe protests
Mail & Guardian (SA)
December 05, 2006

http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/&articleid=292490

Zimbabwe's top union body on vowed Tuesday to stage new protests against the government, saying it had failed to address the plight of workers reeling under four-digit inflation, high taxes and a shrinking labour market.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Lovemore Matombo expressed outrage at "the failure by the minister of finance to address fundamental economic issues" in his latest budget statement announced last week.

Matombo said President Robert Mugabe's government had also ignored demands made by the ZCTU ahead of planned street protests, which were crushed by anti-riot police on September 13.

"Realising that the issues raised by the ZCTU as workers when they demonstrated on September 13 have not been acted upon, the ZCTU general council reaffirmed its commitment to go to the streets," he told a news conference.

"Consultations on the nature and form of the action will start soon."

The labour body is demanding minimum wages matching the poverty threshold, free access to antiretrovirals (ARVs) for people living with HIV/Aids and wants an end to the arbitrary arrests of informal traders and street vendors.

Matombo said some workers' salaries were so low that their employers could be said to be enjoying free labour.

He said the ZCTU was concerned that ARVs disbursed by a council funded by taxpayers' money often did not reach the beneficiaries.

"It is disheartening to note that the workers who contribute to the fund are relegated to onlookers as they die unnoticed and uncared for," Matombo said, adding that the government had up to January 1 to respond to their demands.

The ZCTU leaders were forced to abandon plans for a series of anti-government marches over the spiralling cost of living when police arrested them in September.

The labour body had hoped to rope in thousands to denounce fuel and food shortages, four-digit inflation and 80% unemployment -- which critics blame on economic mismanagement by Mugabe's government.

Their lawyers said ZCTU secretary general Wellington Chibebe had a fractured arm, while 29 others sustained bruises and cuts after being assaulted in police custody.

The union members and officials are facing charges of breaching the Criminal Codification Act and lost a bid on Monday to have the charges thrown out.

MPs are shortly expected to vote on a motion, proposed by Mugabe's nephew Leo that would give the government powers to dismiss the ZCTU leadership and appoint their replacements. -- AFP

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