Cosatu slams deportation

2004-10-27 09:37

Johannesburg - The Congress of SA Trade Union has strongly condemned the deportation of its task team from Zimbabwe.

Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said the mission was expected back at Cosatu headquarters on Wednesday afternoon and hoped to have them address a media conference.

He said a vehicle had been arranged to take the 13 to Johannesburg from Polokwane. They had travelled by minibus taxi from Beit Bridge to Polokwane early on Wednesday morning after being taken to the border post by Zimbabwean police overnight.

An international labour federation has meanwhile added its condemnation to the deportation of the 13-member delegation - which was evicted from the country despite a court order forbidding it, said Craven.

He said the Zimbabwean intelligence minister's claims that the federation was working with British Prime Minister Tony Blair were "utterly ludicrous".

"We reject this with contempt," he said.

Zimbabwean authorities first tried to get the 13 members of the delegation on an aeroplane flight back to South Africa on Tuesday night, but there were none available.

While the South African foreign affairs department has so far defended Zimbabwe's right to "determine and apply its own immigration laws as it may deem appropriate", Craven said Cosatu planned to put pressure on government to act on this matter.

"We feel the government must agree that there is a problem of human rights in a country were a trade union federation cannot send a peaceful, lawful delegation without being deported."

The delegation was on a fact-finding mission, intending to meet Zimbabwe's labour movement and civil society groups. It also requested a meeting with the government.

- SAPA