STOP THE CARNAGE NOW: IN SOLIDARITY WITH WORKERS AND PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE- NLC PROTEST AT ZIMBABWE EMBASSY,DELIVERS A PROTEST LETTER
President Emmerson Mnangagwa
President of the Republic of ZIMBABAWE
State House,
Harare, ZIMBABWE
STOP THE CARNAGE NOW: IN SOLIDARITY WITH WORKERS AND PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE
I bring to you the warm compliments of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
We write to bring to your esteemed attention very ugly incidents that have trailed the mass protests following the sudden increase in pump prices of petroleum products by the government of Zimbabwe.
Your Excellency, we have it on good authority that many leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and several civilians have been harassed, hounded, tortured, illegally detained and murdered for participating in peaceful protests against what many Zimbabweans perceive as insensitive policy choices by the government of Zimbabwe.
The Nigeria Labour Congress reiterates its firm support for democracy and the rule of law, everywhere and at all times. We are sad that what should have passed on as a civil action in democratic climes was met with disproportionate use of force culminating into widespread suppression and violation of fundamental human rights of Zimbabweans by the military and security forces who were reported to have unleashed an orgy of violence, bloodshed and acts of brigandage and lawlessness.
The NLC is highly concerned about allegations of home raids, killings, rapes, robbery and physical assaults against workers, women, children and civilians generally during the so-called crackdown of protests by the Zimbabwean security forces. The action of these security has led to a number of disappearances, displacements, with attendant physical and psychological injuries to victims, their relatives and colleagues.
There is no doubt that the fundamental human rights and basic dignity of Zimbabweans which are guaranteed by relevant conventions and protocols of the United Nations and the African Union, have been severely trampled upon by the action of members of Zimbabwean security forces.
Your Excellency, we need to also remind you that the action of the Zimbabwean security forces against leaders of the Zimbabwean Trade Union Congress (ZCTU) is in dire violation of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 87 on the right to unionize and organize.
We therefore call on the government of Zimbabwe to immediately stop the ongoing pogrom by calling the security forces to order as we note that what is going on right now in Zimbabwe is out of tune with democratic tenets and certainly not in tandem with your promise of a new Zimbabwe.
We specifically call on the government of Zimbabwe to release, unconditionally, the General Secretary of the Zimbabwean Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Japhet Moyo and other trade union leaders arrested in connection with the protests and stop the siege on the homes of labour leaders and activists across the country.
While we encourage your government to deploy dialogue rather than brute force in matters of this nature, we urge your government to ensure adequate treatment, rehabilitation and compensation for the victims of this unwieldy deployment of state force against Zimbabwean citizens
Yours faithfully,
Comrade Ayuba Wabba, mni
President