Cosatu condemns Zimbabwe unionist arrest 15 -02-07

 

COSATU condemns Zimbabwe unionists' arrest

The Congress of South African Trade Unions strongly condemns the arrest of Progressive Teachers Union president Raymond Majongwe and two other unionists by Zimbabwean police yesterday.

In particular COSATU is outraged that they have reportedly been charged with "inciting teachers to go on strike", under the draconian Public Order and Security Act (POSA). Three nurses have also been arrested and charged with the same 'offence'.

We agree fully with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) that "the arrests are a violation of human rights, as teachers are allowed to go on strike".

According to the ZCTU statement: "The least paid teacher is earning $84 000 while the poverty datum line is hovering around $566 000. This is degrading and inhuman to teachers... as long as teachers, and other workers of Zimbabwe, including the army and police are not earning PDL equated wages, strike action will characterise 2007."

COSATU demands the immediate and unconditional release of all the arrested trade unionists, the scrapping of the undemocratic POSA and the restoration of trade union' right to organise and strike.