Among the 41 arrested are the President of the ZCTU, Lovemore Matombo, secretary-general, Wellington Chibebe, other top leaders of the ZCTU and some ZCTU staff members.
The police arrested them yesterday morning as they grouped to lead a protest in central Harare.
Riot police have been patrolling the streets of Harare city centre since early morning on Wednesday and eight union leaders were arrested in Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo on Tuesday night, ahead of the planned protest marches.
In Mutare, 100 people were arrested while in Gweru police also arrested some activists but the number is not yet known.
ZCTU deputy secretary-general, Collin Gwiyo, addressed the Cosatu central executive committee in May this year, and ZCTU President, Lovemore Matombo, addressed Cosatu’s 8th National Congress on September 17, 2003, where both meetings concluded on a programme, which includes a commitment to solidarity with the ZCTU.
In resonse to the arrests, Cosatu has demanded the immediate release of each activist, and has called on the Zimbabwe government to convene a summit of all political and social formations to engage in negotiations to find solutions to the crisis.
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