Zim union plans mass protests

HARARE – A series of mass protests will be held across Zimbabwe this month against the mounting economic hardships under the regime of President Robert Mugabe, the country’s largest trade union said yesterday.

The September 13 day of action would see nationwide demonstrations despite laws banning unauthorised protests. Police responded to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions’ (ZCTU) call by vowing to “deal with any unlawful acts”.ZCTU general secretary Wellington Chibebe said the decision to hold a day of action was taken at a meeting of the organisation’s general council in a bid to counter growing poverty levels and increased taxation, as well as the limited access to antiretroviral drugs for HIV sufferers.”We want the government to urgently address these concerns and are now organising our structures nationwide to prepare for the day of the demonstrations,” Chibebe told AFP.Zimbabwe’s public order and security act (POSA) prohibits political rallies, processions and other forms of protests without prior police clearance which is almost certain to be withheld for an anti-government demonstration.”We will make sure that the law is followed.It really depends on the nature of the protests they intend to embark on but we are ready to deal with any unlawful acts,” police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena was quoted as saying by the state-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper.”For any demonstration to be lawful one has to follow the provisions of the law.If this is not done we will make sure that the law is followed.”Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, the ZCTU’s former general secretary, defied the public order act on Friday by leading an unannounced protest march on the parliament building in Harare, along with around 40 senior members of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).Zimbabwe is in the throes of an economic crisis characterised by high unemployment, record inflation which recently peaked at nearly 1 200% and shortages of fuel and basic goods like the staple cornmeal and cooking oil.At least 80% of the population is living below the poverty threshhold, often skipping meals or cycling or walking long distances to work in order to stretch their wages to the next payday.News24Police responded to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions’ (ZCTU) call by vowing to “deal with any unlawful acts”.ZCTU general secretary Wellington Chibebe said the decision to hold a day of action was taken at a meeting of the organisation’s general council in a bid to counter growing poverty levels and increased taxation, as well as the limited access to antiretroviral drugs for HIV sufferers.”We want the government to urgently address these concerns and are now organising our structures nationwide to prepare for the day of the demonstrations,” Chibebe told AFP.Zimbabwe’s public order and security act (POSA) prohibits political rallies, processions and other forms of protests without prior police clearance which is almost certain to be withheld for an anti-government demonstration.”We will make sure that the law is followed.It really depends on the nature of the protests they intend to embark on but we are ready to deal with any unlawful acts,” police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena was quoted as saying by the state-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper.”For any demonstration to be lawful one has to follow the provisions of the law.If this is not done we will make sure that the law is followed.”Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, the ZCTU’s former general secretary, defied the public order act on Friday by leading an unannounced protest march on the parliament building in Harare, along with around 40 senior members of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).Zimbabwe is in the throes of an economic crisis characterised by high unemployment, record inflation which recently peaked at nearly 1 200% and shortages of fuel and basic goods like the staple cornmeal and cooking oil.At least 80% of the population is living below the poverty threshhold, often skipping meals or cycling or walking long distances to work in order to stretch their wages to the next payday.News24