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Joint statement on Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
July 16, 2007

Leaders of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) held a bilateral meeting in Johannesburg on Monday 16 July. The ZCTU Deputy President and Secretary General summarised the history of the current crisis and the hardships facing their members, the working class and the poor. Unemployment is at 80% and inflation is spiralling out of control. Attacks by the state on human rights and workers organisations are continuing. The exodus of refugees fleeing into neighbouring countries has swelled into a flood, with 5000 a week being arrested coming to South Africa alone. Skilled teachers and doctors are being forced to take menial jobs to survive

The government's price control measures have only worsened the plight of the poor majority. While both federations are worried at profiteering by business who are taking advantage of inflation to enrich themselves, the manner in which these price cuts have been carried out has been a disaster. The main beneficiaries have been state officials and the political elite, who have been forcing manufacturers and traders to slash their prices and often then buying up all the remaining stock at cut-down prices, for the benefit of their families or to sell on the black market at inflated prices. The vast majority of Zimbabweans lack the money to gain any benefit from the price cuts. We demand an immediate summit of government, labour and business to solve the crisis of empty shelves and food shortages caused by the price cuts and the hunger this is causing.

The two federations recommitted themselves to campaign for a negotiated settlement and the current SADC intervention to achieve this goal. We want a democratic process, involving civil society, to draw up a new, progressive constitution and free and fair elections. We shall continue to urge the leaders of the SADC government to implement their decision to bring about a democratic political solution to the crisis, and will work with our comrades in the Southern African Trade union Co-ordination Committee. We are worried that if this process fails, the Zimbabwe economy will collapse completely, with dire consequences for the poor of that country and our region as a whole.

COSATU in the meantime will discuss with its Alliance and civil society partners a package of people-based humanitarian interventions in preparation for this reality. We call upon the Zimbabwe government to admit there is a crisis, call off their short-term populist actions and actively co-operate with the SADC process.

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)
Congress of South African Trade Unions

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