Zim Workers’ unions vow protests

HARARE – Zimbabwean union and civic leaders vowed on Monday to take to the streets to protest worsening hardship under President Robert Mugabe’s rule, and asked police to refrain from beating them.

“If we don’t get a living wage of 35 million (US$350) for the lowest paid worker we will take to the streets,” Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Lovemore Matombo told thousands of people at a stadium in Harare to mark May Day. “I urge you police, soldiers and Central Intelligence Organisation operatives and your commanders, when we go out of the streets over the wage issues, please don’t block us or beat us up.”Matombo said plans for the protest strikes and dates would be discussed at the union’s congress later this month.Zimbabwe National Students Union secretary-general Promise Mkwananzi blamed government for the country’s woes and urged Zimbabweans to join the opposition and engage in mass strikes to force Mugabe to relinquish power.”When the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) calls for democratic resistance, we will join them,” Mkwananzi said referring to protest calls by Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of a faction of the divided MDC.The calls came a few weeks after Mugabe accused his opponents of plotting to topple him and issued a stern warning to activists planning protest action.”I want to warn those who say they no longer want to follow democratic principles and reject elections and want to topple the government by gathering people to stage strikes, burn businesses and destroy our wealth,” he said at celebrations marking Zimbabwe’s 26th anniversary of independence in mid-April.”I want to warn them they are playing with fire which will burn them,” said Mugabe, who has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.ZCTU leader Matombo deplored the growing poverty, and the lack of services in major cities including erratic power supplies.He urged Zimbabweans to stop paying utilities bills to pressure authorities.”At independence 25 years ago, 30 per cent of the population lived below the poverty datum line, now in 2006 it’s over 90 per cent,” he said.”Unemployment was between 15 and 20 per cent, now it’s over 85 per cent if we want to be conservative and use government statistics.”Matombo called for a price freeze and wage increases as government, labour and business prepare to conclude a series of negotiations to alleviate the plight of workers.Lovemore Madhuku, leader of the National Constitutional Assembly, a coalition of organisations demanding a new constitution for Zimbabwe, urged civic groups to confront Mugabe’s government.”Our hardships are not caused by God but by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front government and if we unite and confront them they will give in,” he said.- Nampa-AFP”I urge you police, soldiers and Central Intelligence Organisation operatives and your commanders, when we go out of the streets over the wage issues, please don’t block us or beat us up.”Matombo said plans for the protest strikes and dates would be discussed at the union’s congress later this month.Zimbabwe National Students Union secretary-general Promise Mkwananzi blamed government for the country’s woes and urged Zimbabweans to join the opposition and engage in mass strikes to force Mugabe to relinquish power.”When the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) calls for democratic resistance, we will join them,” Mkwananzi said referring to protest calls by Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of a faction of the divided MDC.The calls came a few weeks after Mugabe accused his opponents of plotting to topple him and issued a stern warning to activists planning protest action.”I want to warn those who say they no longer want to follow democratic principles and reject elections and want to topple the government by gathering people to stage strikes, burn businesses and destroy our wealth,” he said at celebrations marking Zimbabwe’s 26th anniversary of independence in mid-April.”I want to warn them they are playing with fire which will burn them,” said Mugabe, who has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.ZCTU leader Matombo deplored the growing poverty, and the lack of services in major cities including erratic power supplies.He urged Zimbabweans to stop paying utilities bills to pressure authorities.”At independence 25 years ago, 30 per cent of the population lived below the poverty datum line, now in 2006 it’s over 90 per cent,” he said.”Unemployment was between 15 and 20 per cent, now it’s over 85 per cent if we want to be conservative and use government statistics.”Matombo called for a price freeze and wage increases as government, labour and business prepare to conclude a series of negotiations to alleviate the plight of workers.Lovemore Madhuku, leader of the National Constitutional Assembly, a coalition of organisations demanding a new constitution for Zimbabwe, urged civic groups to confront Mugabe’s government.”Our hardships are not caused by God but by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front government and if we unite and confront them they will give in,” he said.- Nampa-AFP