Wellington Chibebe, Secretary-General, Lucia Matibenga, Vice President, Sam Machinda, Central Region Vice Chairperson and Timothy Kondo, Advocy Coordinator, were arrested under the Public Order and Security Act on charges of conducting a riot, disorder or intolerance.
The four leaders were attending a ZCTU workshop on the report back on high levels of taxation; Aids levy; and the National Social Security Authority.
The workshop was also to give feed back on the proceedings of the June International Labour Organisation annual conference.
Initially the leaders were accused of holding the workshop without police clearance but the charges were later changed during the day. Trade Unions are some of the organisations exempted from seeking police clearance when holding meetings in Zimbabwe.
“During the afternoon the four leaders were finger printed and gave statements but it is not clear whether they will be released or detained as the police are taking their time to press clear charges,” the ZCTU said.
“It is this over zealous and uninformed action by police which is an affront to the freedoms of association and assembly. The ZCTU as a bonafide Trade Union deserves its rights to operate freely.
“The action by the police is a deliberate attack on the rule of law they are supposed to protect. This is high time the ZCTU be left alone to do its work.”
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