Cosatu condemns MDC office raid 25-04-08

 

COSATU condemns MDC office raid

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is outraged at the raid by 200-250 heavily armed police on the MDC Headquarters at Harvest House in Harare, Zimbabwe, and the arrest of 300 people, including all staff members and people, including pregant women and children, who were staying at the party headquarters after fleeing from various parts of the country where the regime has been unleashing brutal violence. COSATU demands the immediate, unconditional release of all those arrested and the return of all property stolen from the party.

COSATU is also shocked that the police admit they were searching for documents that the party possesses that form the basis of its claim that the MDC won the elections, in particular the Presidential election, the results of which have still not been declared, and that they have taken computers and equipment used by the MDC at its election command centre. This raid is the clearest evidence yet that the illegal Mugabe regime has no intention of respecting the democratic process and the wishes of the people of Zimbabwe but is now imposing its will through violence. That is why COSATU, its allies and civil society will be marching in protest on Saturday 10 May in Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban to demand the immediate release of the election results, an end to violence by the state and ruling party, and the installation of the government voted for by the majority of Zimbabweans.

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)

Congress of South African Trade Unions

1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets

Braamfontein, 2017

P.O. Box 1019

Johannesburg, 2000

SOUTH AFRICA

Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24

Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667

Cell: 0828217456

E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za