HARARE - The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says a majority of its union affiliates have vowed to defy a government order banning them from marking Workers Day processions that will prelude the internationally-recognised May Day mass rally.The government said it would use a harsh internal security law to prevent the so-called “May Day” demonstrators from marching in Kwekwe and Mutare on Workers Day, 1 May. Police in other regions have not yet responded to the notification for demonstrations amid reports there were attempts to completely ban the Workers Day commemoration countrywide amid security fears.
Zimbabwe’s police force has accused the main labour movement of attempting to stoke violence with the planned march and warned it would fully deploy the force in preparation for the marches in the banned areas. Wellington Chibebe, the ZCTU secretary-general, said the labour union has retained the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to mount an urgent
chamber application in the High Court to challenge the ban.
He said the ZCTU did not need permission to march, but was merely required by law to inform the police. An April 13 letter from the Officer commanding police in Mutare, Chief Superintendent Joseph Chani, banning the planned march from the city
centre to Sakubva Stadium, says: Please be advised that permission to hold a May Day procession has not been granted.
Processions have been temporarily banned for security reasons until further notice.”
Previous street marches by the ZCTU have provoked violent reprisals from security forces. The police, notorious for beating protestors, said the union was attempting to use its influence for violent means. A senior police source said a “National Reaction Force” has been activated, and would be deployed in all problem areas to ensure that there was law and order during the “illegal” ZCTU march, which he claimed was a guise for sparking North Africa-style protests. A defiant Chibebe said the the main commemorations would be held at Gwanzura stadium on May 1 at 9 am. Labour and Social Services minister Paurina Mpariwa of Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s MDC will be the guest of honour.
“The commemorations will also focus on issues to do with labour law reform, fight for poverty datum line-linked minimum wages, demand for an ebd to victimization of trade union activists, and respect for human and trade union rights, reduction of income tax, repeal of all repressive laws and decent work provision,” Chibebe said. The ZCTU’s previous calls for strikes over labour and social issues in recent years have largely failed due to government intimidation and workers’ fears of losing their jobs in a country with more than 80-percent unemployment, analysts said.
Post published in: Economy