Several demonstrators including leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions were arrested ahead of a planned march to demonstrate against high taxation and the deteriorating economic situation.
Among those arrested were: ZCTU secretary general Wellington Chibebe, ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo, ZCTU deputy secretary general Collen Gwiyo, secretary general of the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe Raymond Majongwe, director of Transparency International Zimbabwe John Makumbe, director of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Brian Raftopolous, director of the National Constitutional Assembly Lovemore Madhuku, director of the Women in Parliament Support Unit Janah Ncube, and chairman of the Combined Harare Residents Association Mike Davies.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 03HARARE2257, ZCTU LEADERS, DEMONSTRATORS ARRESTED IN ADVANCE OF
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 002257
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR J. FRAZER
LONDON FOR C. GURNEY
PARIS FOR C. NEARY
NAIROBI FOR T. PFLAUMER
DS/OP/AF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2013
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM PINR ECON ASEC ZI ZCTU
SUBJECT: ZCTU LEADERS, DEMONSTRATORS ARRESTED IN ADVANCE OF
PLANNED MARCH
REF: HARARE 2246
Classified By: Political Officer Audu Besmer for reasons 1.5 b/d
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On November 18, police arrested 9 members of
the ZCTU governing body, and about forty-five civil society
leaders and ZCTU members nationwide in advance of a ZCTU
planned demonstration. There were credible reports that WOZA
Director Jenni Williams was severely beaten during arrest,
but police presence on the streets of Harare was lighter than
usual for such an event. The GOZ appears, as in the past,
determined to quash any public expression of opposition. END
SUMMARY.
¶2. (U) On November 18, at about 10:30 a.m. riot police
stormed a demonstration (Ref) planning meeting at the Quality
International Hotel in Harare of the Zimbabwe Congress of
Trade Unions (ZCTU) general council. Of the
thirty-five-member body, nine were arrested including
Secretary General Wellington Chibebe, President Lovemore
SIPDIS
Matongo, Deputy Secretary General Collen Gwiyo, and Secretary
General of the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ)
Raymond Majongwe. According to Mlamleli Sibanda, ZCTU
Information Officer, police did not mistreat any of the
arrestees.
¶3. (U) On the same day at about 1:00 p.m. police in Harare
arrested about thirty people who were gathered to participate
in a ZCTU march against high taxation and deteriorating
economic conditions. Among those arrested were John Makumbe,
Director of Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ), Brian
Raftopolous, Director of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition,
Lovemore Madhuku, Director of the National Constitutional
Assembly (NCA), Janah Ncube, Director of the Women in
Parliament Support Unit (WIPSU), and Mike Davies, Chairman of
the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA). The
remaining arrestees were mostly ZCTU members. Speaking on
his cell phone from custody at Harare Central Police Station,
Raftopolous said they had gathered near Town House to begin
the planned march to the Ministry of Finance. Immediately as
they began to march, police arrested them. Raftopolous said
police had not mistreated them.
¶4. (C) The sister of Jenni Williams, Director of Women of
Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), told the DCM that police arrested
Williams in Bulawayo and beat her severely. Williams,
distraught but able to get a cell phone call out to her
sister, said several other WOZA members were arrested with
her as they gathered to march on November 18; some of the
others were also beaten. (Note: Attempts to contact Williams
directly have been futile. End Note).
¶5. (C) Sibanda said that as workers gathered to march in
Bulawayo, a police truck arrived and riot police jumped out
and started beating would-be demonstrators. The workers
fled, one person ran into the street, was hit by a passing
vehicle, and was severely injured.
¶6. (C) Sibanda said that on the morning of November 18,
police also arrested seven ZCTU members in Gweru, and one
each in Victoria Falls, Gwanda, and Bulawayo. Gebre
Gebremariam, Zimbabwe Representative of the Solidarity Center
said that the goal was to force police to arrest them as a
sign of protest, and that now their intention was to get out
of jail and do the same thing next week.
¶7. (U) On November 17, SAPA carried a statement by COSATU
supporting the planned ZCTU demonstration and calling on the
GOZ not to interfere with the ZCTU’s bona fide trade union
activities and to let the workers of Zimbabwe express their
feelings over economic hardships. Sibanda said that CTUC and
ICFTU had also issued statements in solidarity with the
planned march.
¶8. (C) Emboffs toured around downtown Harare during the time
when the demonstration was supposed to start and spoke
directly with several gathered who were later arrested.
Emboffs observed not more than forty people gathered near
Town House for the planned march. Police presence was less
than for previous similar events. Groups of three to four
officers could be seen patrolling near the planned gathering
area, and in Africa Unity Square, some with batons. MDC
Secretary for Economic Affairs Tendayi Biti said that he
SIPDIS
expected the turnout to be low due to lapses in planning and
communication.
COMMENT:
——–
¶9. (C) Although the ZCTU had hoped the general populace would
respond to its call to march, the turnout in Harare at least
appeared to be largely symbolic. As usual, police were not
afraid to preemptively arrest leaders and break-up a very
modest march in its earliest stage – demonstrating that the
GOZ has no intention of allowing any public expression of
opposition.
SULLIVAN
(95 VIEWS)
