Zim labour slams deportation

2004-10-27 20:15

Harare - Zimbabwe's main labour body Wednesday condemned the government's deportation of 13 leading unionists from neighbouring South Africa who were on a fact-finding mission, saying such moves could "further isolate" Harare.

"The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) strongly condemns the insensitive and hideous decision by the government of Zimbabwe to deport a... delegation from the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu)," said the statement by ZCTU president, Lovemore Matombo.

Matombo also condemned "the inhuman manner in which our colleagues from Cosatu were treated, which shows the callousness of the government."

"The government is urged to avoid making hasty and dangerous decisions that might in the long run be diplomatic blunders which will further isolate the country," he said.

The delegation from South Africa's main trade union federation flew into Harare on Monday despite a ban by the Zimbabwe government, which said the visit ahead of its elections next year, was "not acceptable".

However the team was allowed to enter on condition they did not meet with certain civic groups, terms they refused to accept.

They were taken from their hotel under police guard on Tuesday, detained, and driven overnight and dumped at Zimbabwe's border with South Africa early on Wednesday.

The Zimbabwean government accused the team members of being agents for pro-Western interests, charges Matombo dismissed as unfounded.

- AFP