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Trade Union leaders held in condemned police cells
MISA-Zimbabwe
September 14, 2006

Mike Saburi a freelance cameraperson arrested together with leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) following their arrest ahead of planned nationwide demonstrations are still being detained at different police stations in Harare more than 15 hours after their arrest on 13 September 2006.

ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo and his secretary-general Wellington Chibhebhe who were reportedly severely assaulted by the police following their arrest, are being held in condemned police cells at Matapi Police Station in Harare.

Lawyers representing the detained ZCTU leaders told MISA-Zimbabwe that they had since filed an urgent High Court application against their continued detention at Matapi Police Station whose holding cells were condemned by the Supreme Court as degrading and inhuman. Some of the arrested trade unionists and senior opposition MDC leaders are being held at Harare Central Police Station.

The lawyers said the police had since recorded their warned and cautioned statements and were likely to charge them for contravening Section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Section 37 deals with participation in a gathering with the intention of promoting public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry. The offence carries a fine of Zimdollars 10 000 (USd 40) or five years imprisonment or both fine and imprisonment.

Saburi was arrested while filming armed riot police as they descended on the trade union leaders at the meeting point for the start of the protest marches in Harare's central business district (CBD).

MISA-Zimbabwe condemns the police crackdown on the planned marches and subsequent arrest of the ZCTU leaders as a blatant violation of the workers right to freedom of expression through demonstrations or strike actions as guaranteed by the constitution.

MISA-Zimbabwe also notes with great concern the wanton arrests of journalists going about their lawful and professional duties of recording, covering and reporting events as they unfold and demands the immediate and unconditional release of Saburi.

Saburi's unlawful arrest and detention comes hard on the heels of that of Standard journalist Ndamu Sandu and Godwin Mangudya of the banned Daily News while covering a demonstration by Harare residents against deteriorating service delivery by Harare Municipality. Sandu and Mangudya were eventually released without being charged after being detained at Harare Central Police Station.

Background
Armed riot police on 13 September 2006 sealed off Harare's CBD and arrested Matombo, Chibhebhe, ZCTU vice president Lucia Matibenga and senior opposition MDC official, Grace Kwinje. Raymond Majongwe, the president of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Saburi and 20 other people were also among those arrested in Harare.

The planned marches which were slated for 12.30 pm until 2pm on 13 September 2006, had been called to demand for minimum wages and salaries commensurate with the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) which was last month pegged at Z$84 million, reduction in income tax to a maximum of 30 percent and that workers salaries below the PDL should not be taxed.

Heavily armed police patrolled the CBD and sealed off roads leading to Munhumutapa Building which houses the Offices of the President and Cabinet and Parliament Building. The security cordon follows a dire warning by President Robert Mugabe that the government would ruthlessly deal with any planned mass actions and demonstrations.

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