Zimbabwean trade unionists in hiding
Via RadGeek, we learn that Amnesty International says:
Two Zimbabwean trade unionists have gone into hiding after receiving threatening phone calls. The callers identified themselves as members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).
The ZRP and CIO officers are reported to have accused Edward Dzeka and Joyce Muwoni, who are officers of the General Agriculture and Plantations Workers Union (GAPWUZ) in the farming town of Chegutu, of organising workers to take part in the job “stay away†demonstration in the town and on the surrounding farms.
Members of the ZRP and CIO also called at the GAPWUZ offices on 4 April and enquired about the whereabouts of the two unionists. They later visited the home of Edward Dzeka, who is also the district chairperson of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), in Chegutu.
Some of the ZRP and CIO officers making the alleged threats are known to the trade unionists. They are believed to be targeting leaders of trade unions following the 3 to 4 April national job “stay away†demonstration organised by the ZCTU.
Edward Dzeka was previously arrested with 10 other trade unionists on 13 September 2006 for organising peaceful protests under the ZCTU. The 11 trade unionists were reported to have been tortured by members of the ZRP at Chegutu police station. They are currently on bail after being charged under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
Amnesty International understands that Edward Dzeka and Joyce Muwoni are being threatened for exercising their rights to freedom of association and assembly by organising a peaceful demonstration as part of GAPWUZ and the ZCTU. Amnesty International is deeply concerned about their safety and calls on the police and CIO to guarantee their safety.
RadGeek shares in his post some action recommendations that Amnesty sent him in an email alert. I adapted his letter into an email to the most senior official at the Zimbabwean Embassy with an email address, cc’ing the general info address for the embassy as well as the contact email for the Zimbabwean Congress of Trade Unions.
Share ThisFrom: Brad Spangler
Date: Sun, Apr 8, 2007 at 8:42 AM
To: gapare@zimbabwe-embassy.us
Cc: info@zimbabwe-embassy.us, info@zctu.co.zw
Subject: Edward Dzeka and Joyce MuwoniDear Mr. Gideon Gumisai Gapare,
I am writing to you today as a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, living and working in the United States. I am worried because I heard today that two of my fellow workers in Zimbabwe, Edward Dzeka and Joyce Muwoni, have gone into hiding after receiving threatening phone calls from people claiming to be officers of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Central Intelligence Organization. These calls reportedly threatened Dzeka and Muwoni in retaliation for organizing workers in Chegutu and on the surrounding farms. It is my understanding that Dzeka and Muwoni are being targeted and threatened by local authorities solely for organizing a peaceful demonstration as part of their work for the General Agriculture and Plantations Workers Union of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.
Dzeka and Muwoni’s peaceful organizing work is an exercise of their inalienable human right to freedom of association and freedom of political assembly, as recognized and protected under Section 21 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as well as articles 10 and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. I urge you to protect the rights of my fellow workers in Zimbabwe — and to live up to Zimbabwe’s constitutional and international treaty obligations — by guaranteeing the safety of Edward Dzeka, Joyce Muwoni, and any other trade unionists in Chegutu subject to similar threats. I also urge the police and CIO to immediately investigate the reports of threats made against trade unionists by ZRP and CIO officers, and bring to justice any officers responsible for making these threats against peaceful union organizers.
My fellow unionists and I are following situation in Zimbabwe with grave concern, sir. They and I would appreciate a reply from you as soon as possible. In view of the above information, we urge you to investigate this situation and act as quickly as possible to assure the safety of trade unionists from threats or violence
Sincerely,
Brad Spangler
Member, Industrial Workers of the World IU 560
