Dear Mr. President,
Three workers and one spouse seriously injured in shootings at Shabanie Mine, Zimbabwe
The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa), which represents over 16 million workers organised by 88 affiliates in 46 African countries, including Zimbabwe, writes to you to protest and deplore the firing of shots at some workers during a peaceful demonstration in Shabanie Mine in the mining town of Zvishavane on 24 September 2009.
According to reliable reports reaching us, three mineworkers, one woman and two men, and a wife of a mine worker have been shot and injured at Shabanie Mine in the mining town of Zvishavane. They are now being treated at White Hospital in Zvishavane under police guard but their relatives are being denied access to them. An unspecified number of workers have also been arrested while trying to visit their injured colleagues in hospital.
The four were participating in demonstrations on 24 September over the non-payment of salaries since January 2009. The action by the workers started over three weeks ago on 7 September, but the mine officials have been unwilling to address the matter.
Over the past week the workers have been threatened with dismissal by security agents forcing them to return to work. In the process some were assaulted in their homes.
The ITUC-Africa has also received reports that 23 trade union leaders were dismissed by Zimasco after participating in collective action on 17 June and that subsequent requests for peaceful solidarity marches against their dismissals were denied.
The ITUC-Africa is outraged and deeply disturbed by these reports, and would like to remind you that these atrocities are taking place while an ILO Commission of Inquiry is currently examining violations of trade union rights in your country. The ITUC-Africa will avail to the Commission of Inquiry details of these violations.
The ITUC-Africa urges your government to take immediate practical steps to halt the on-going violations of trade union rights in your country. We call on your government to thoroughly investigate these violations and punished their perpetuators.
We demand proper medical treatment for victims of these barbaric acts and urge your government to ensure that they are adequately compensated. In the same regards, we urge you to also ensure that workers who have been unlawfully dismissed from their jobs are immediately and unconditionally reinstated with fully benefits and rights.
Yours sincerely,
Kwasi Adu-Amankwah
General Secretary
CC: Brother Guy Ryder, General Secretary, ITUC
All Affiliates, ITUC-Africa
All HTURs Network Focal Persons, ITUC-Africa
