BY OBEY MANAYITI
The ZIMBABWE Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has implored the Zanu PF-led government to respect people’s rights and stop using intimidation tactics and abductions ahead of next week’s planned demonstrations.
Civic groups allege that State agents had allegedly been deployed to intimidate and harass people indiscriminately, just like what happened during the January fuel protests where at least 17 people were shot dead, while hundreds others were injured in a crackdown against the demonstrations.
“What we will unequivocally support and defend as an organisation is freedom of speech, assembly and association,” ZCTU president Peter Mutasa said.
“We, therefore, hope the State will allow peaceful protests of labour or political parties and stop intimidation, abductions and killings of innocent citizens.”
Zimbabwe has come under spotlight over gross human rights violations in the past, with the Unite States slapping former Presidential Guard head Anselem Sanyatwe with sanctions over his role in the January disturbances.
Meanwhile, the ZCTU said it would soon be announcing dates for its own action against the President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led government.
“We have serious socio-economic disputes with the government over eroded salaries, pathetic social services delivery, high cost of living, corruption and neoliberal policies that are hurting the poor,” Mutasa said.
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“We are, therefore, going to protest against this as labour and the poor. We will be announcing dates of our protests soon.”
The labour body said its members were free to join the MDC demonstrations.
