16 Nov 2005 UPDATE: TRADE UNIONISTS RELEASED See related news items below

10 Nov 2005
Arrest of 200 trade unionists in Zimbabwe

Take action and show protest against the arrest of 200 trade unionists on 8 November: send a letter to Zimbabwe's President Mugabe.

To ITF affiliated Unions

10 November 2005

Dear Colleagues

Arrest of 200 trade unionists in Zimbabwe

The ITF is urging all affiliates to write to Zimbabwe's President Mugabe to strongly protest at the arrest of around 200 trade unionists on 8 November 2005.

We understand that 118 members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) in Harare and at least 50 members in other parts of the country were arrested at or on their way to a national protest against poverty, hunger, unemployment, high inflation and high transportation costs. The protesters were calling for proper wages, a reduction of income tax, increased availability of anti-retroviral drugs and a halt to imports of cheap goods from Asian countries.

The ITF is extremely concerned at suggestions that torture may have been used, and is also worried for the safety of two arrested members of the ITF-affiliated Zimbabwe Amalgamated Railwaymen's Union (ZARU), Area Organising Secretary (Eastern) Miss S Moyo and activist Francisca Gurure.

The ITF is calling for all affiliates to send letters of protest (see attached for ITF letter to President Mugabe) against the arrests of individuals who were involved in the legitimate trade union activity of protesting for economic and social improvements for workers.  In particular, the ITF is calling for the safety of, and immediate and unconditional release of, all arrested trade unionists, including Miss S Moyo and Francisca Gurure

Yours sincerely

David Cockroft
General Secretary