Zimbabwe: ITUC Protests to Mugabe, Requests ILO Intervention
Brussels, 16 March 2007 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC has addressed a strong protest letter to Zimbabwean President Robert
Mugabe, following the attacks on trade unionists, the ransacking of the offices of the Zimbabwe Trade Union Congress
(ZCTU), the killing of pro-democracy activist Gift Tandare during the peaceful demonstration on 13 March and the vicious
beatings of opposition politicians and human rights activists, including Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan
Tsvangirai, whose skull was fractured by security forces during a sustained assault.
The ITUC letter called on Mugabe to release immediately and without charge all persons detained during the March 11th
and 13th events, to guarantee the safety of all those from the trade union movement and other civil society
organisations, to ensure that the victims of the police violence receive proper medical attention and to cease
interference in the internal affairs of the trade union movement. The ITUC has also raised the case with the
International Labour Organisation, requesting it to intervene with the Zimbabwe authorities to help ensure that these
demands are met.
International pressure continues to mount on the Mugabe regime, including from other African countries. ITUC affiliates
around the world are maintaining contacts with national governments to put pressure on the regime, and African and
international support for a 2-day stayaway being planned by the ZCTU for 3 and 4 April continues to grow.
Founded on November 1 2006, the ITUC represents 168 million workers in 153 countries and territories and has 304
national affiliates.
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