COSATU condemns arrest of ZCTU leaders

The Congress of South African Trade Unions condemns the arrest of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions President, Lovemore Matombo, together with the whole ZCTU District Executive Committee and two ZCTU staff members Michael Kandukutu and Percy Mcijo. 

The President was addressing members of the ZCTU Victoria Falls District, as the first stop on a tour of the country meeting ZCTU structures. 

The arrests are an outrageous attack on the trade union movement and democracy. They confirm that the state forces in Zimbabwe, regardless of the existence of a ‘government of national unity’, are still brutally imposing their dictatorship over those who are struggling for democracy and workers’ rights.

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested.