- Note - In Zimbabwe we now have the Political Left fighting
the Political Left. The Trade Unions used to be at the forefront of Marxist
Liberation. - Jan
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- (Sapa-AFP) -- Zimbabwe's main labour body called on Wednesday
for nationwide strikes in protest at the arrest of more than 100 of its
officials and supporters during anti-government demonstrations.
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- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) called for
a two-day job stay-away starting on Thursday to put pressure on the government
to release its leaders and supporters, a statement issued by the labour
grouping said.
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- The arrested activists were among hundreds of people
who witnesses said had heeded the labour grouping's call to take to the
streets on Tuesday across the Southern African nation, to protest at the
crumbling economy and alleged rights abuses by President Robert Mugabe's
government.
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- Baton-wielding police broke up the demonstrations and
arrested at least 105 people, according to police figures, although the
ZCTU says the figure is higher.
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- "We demand the immediate release of ZCTU and other
civic society leaders," said the statement signed by ZCTU acting secretary
general Collin Gwiyo.
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- Among those arrested were the ZCTU's president, Lovemore
Matombo, and secretary general Wellington Chibebe.
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- The two-day strike called by the ZCTU was also intended
to put pressure on the government to address the labour grouping's concerns
over high taxes, sky-rocketing prices and alleged abuses of human and workers'
rights, the labour grouping's statement said.
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- Ordinary Zimbabweans are suffering the effects of 70%
unemployment, inflation of more than 525% and chronic shortages of food,
fuel and medicines due to a lack of hard currency to import them.
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- On Thursday Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa is due to
present the national Budget for 2004, and workers are demanding that it
address their grievances.
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- http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=23772&t=1
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