Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Dell treatment for would be protestors

Zimbabwe's repressive government has dealt it's own citizens the same hand it is unleashing on US ambassador Christopher Dell. In yet another shameless display of how far Harare will go to quash any dissent to their iron fisted grip over the nation, they have arrested 150 leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). The ZCTU had called on all its' members to take to the streets today to protest the government's failure to curb the country's economic meltdown which has been going on for more than five years now.

This from Zimonline,
Zimbabwe police on Tuesday arrested the country's labour leaders and about 150 workers for marching in Harare to protest against worsening economic hardships.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Lovemore Matombo told ZimOnline by phone from police cells that the police had not yet pressed any charges against the union leaders and workers.

"They are still questioning us and taking down initial details," was all Matombo could say.

Also detained with Matombo are ZCTU secretary general Wellington Chibhebhe and former parliamentarian and labour activist, Munyaradzi Gwisai.

Before the Harare arrests, the police had late last night swooped on labour leaders in the second largest city of Bulawayo, arresting ZCTU chairman in the city, Percy Ncijo and other top labour officials Reason Ngwenya and Dzavamwe Shambare in a bid to thwart demonstrations by workers there.
Read the full report here.

Over the weekend, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) held protests with mixed results. Zimbabwe's beleagured populace is showing increasing signs of discontent.

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