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MDC condemns shooting of striking workers
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
September 25, 2009

The MDC is greatly disturbed by the shooting early this morning of three Shabanie Mine employees by the police in Zvishavane.

Alois Zhou, Taurai Zhou and Simbarashe Mashuku were shot in cold blood by the police as they waited to have a meeting with the Shabanie Mine management over salaries that have been unpaid since the beginning of the year

Alois Zhou is also the chairman of Zvishavane Town council and an MDC councillor.

A human rights lawyer representing Shabanie workers, Tichaona Chivasa has also been arrested under unclear circumstances and is currently detained at a police post at Zvishavane General Hospital, where the injured workers are hospitalised.

The action by the police is a clear abuse of human rights and the MDC would like to denounce the action taken by the police. We call upon the co-Ministers of Home Affairs, Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi to make urgent investigations into the conduct of the trigger-happy policemen.

Today's shooting incident in Zvishavane is unacceptable in the context of the inclusive government where the culture and deportment of national security institutions have to reflect a new culture of respecting human rights and people's freedoms. The MDC is a party hewn from the labour movement and we believe in the sanctity of the working people's right to engage in collective job action.

In the Global Political Agreement (GPA), the police should be trained on human rights issues so that they observe the rule of law and remain non-partisan and impartial.

The MDC calls on the inclusive government to ensure safety and security of all citizens and property. The danger is that at a time the people expected behavior change in line with the new dispensation, the police themselves have become a source of insecurity to citizens.

The MDC is a party of excellence. We want to deliver real change to the people of Zimbabwe by ensuring and guaranteeing the people's dignity, security, freedoms, prosperity and hope.

Together to the end, marching to a new Zimbabwe.

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