Zimbabwe labour strike flops

HARARE – A job strike called by Zimbabwe’s largest labour union appeared to flop yesterday with businesses opening as usual in Harare and Bulawayo as thousands of workers reported for duty.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) had called the job stay-away today and tomorrow to protest against a government ban on wage increases, rising poverty and food shortages. But workers ignored the call to stay at home, queuing as usual at bus pick-up points as early as 4 am to go to work.In the central business districts of Zimbabwe’s two biggest cities, people continued with their daily chores, queuing for scarce commodities outside supermarkets and shops with no sign of industrial action.ZimOnline correspondents based in other cities and towns across the country reported no disturbances or disruption of business there with banks, shops and local government offices open for business.Police, who have maintained strong presence on the streets ahead of the flopped strike, continued patrolling residential areas and city centres.However, there were no incidents of violence in both Harare and Bulawayo as business continued as usual.In Harare, police were still on the lookout for ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo and secretary general Wellington Chibebe whom they say they want to question over the stillborn job action.A ZCTU official claimed police raided Matombo’s home and when they could not find the labour leader, they arrested a private security guard protecting the premises.Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena was not immediately available for comment on the matter.The hunt for the ZCTU leadership follows the arrest on Monday afternoon of three labour officials abducted by police in the Workington industrial area in Harare as they distributed fliers about the job action.In Bulawayo, two ZCTU officials were arrested while in Mutare scores of other officials were reportedly arrested.ZCTU lawyers said this morning they would appeal to the High Court to order the police to allow them to see the arrested union officials who they have not been allowed to meet since Monday.”We are in the process of filing a High Court application to gain access to our clients,” said Alec Muchadehama, one of the ZCTU lawyers.ZimOnlineBut workers ignored the call to stay at home, queuing as usual at bus pick-up points as early as 4 am to go to work.In the central business districts of Zimbabwe’s two biggest cities, people continued with their daily chores, queuing for scarce commodities outside supermarkets and shops with no sign of industrial action.ZimOnline correspondents based in other cities and towns across the country reported no disturbances or disruption of business there with banks, shops and local government offices open for business.Police, who have maintained strong presence on the streets ahead of the flopped strike, continued patrolling residential areas and city centres.However, there were no incidents of violence in both Harare and Bulawayo as business continued as usual.In Harare, police were still on the lookout for ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo and secretary general Wellington Chibebe whom they say they want to question over the stillborn job action.A ZCTU official claimed police raided Matombo’s home and when they could not find the labour leader, they arrested a private security guard protecting the premises.Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena was not immediately available for comment on the matter.The hunt for the ZCTU leadership follows the arrest on Monday afternoon of three labour officials abducted by police in the Workington industrial area in Harare as they distributed fliers about the job action.In Bulawayo, two ZCTU officials were arrested while in Mutare scores of other officials were reportedly arrested.ZCTU lawyers said this morning they would appeal to the High Court to order the police to allow them to see the arrested union officials who they have not been allowed to meet since Monday.”We are in the process of filing a High Court application to gain access to our clients,” said Alec Muchadehama, one of the ZCTU lawyers.ZimOnline