The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU), the primary trade union federation in Zimbabwe, has called upon State Security Minister Owen Ncube to retract his “threats” against workers and the opposition.
This comes after the minister this week issued a statement on the state of the country’s security in which he claimed that the opposition and workers were working in cahoots with the “enemy” to destabilise the country.
Ncube even said the opposition was smuggling guns into the country. Responding to Ncube’s remarks, ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo distanced Labour activists from the accusations and urged Ncube to retract the statement. Moyo said:
We call upon the minister to retract his statements that are tantamount to instructing the security forces to harm trade unionists, the opposition and civic organisations.
The minister must stop issuing such reckless statements. Despite his threat, we remain committed to fight for justice and a free Zimbabwe.
In fact, the ZCTU was the first to call for the land reform programme at a time the government was cosying with capitalists, but the ruling Zanu PF, realising that it was facing jaws of defeat in the elections as its popularity was waning due to ill-conceived economic programmes backed by global financiers, hijacked the process and started a disorderly fast track land reform.
Meanwhile, opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa rebuffed at Minister Ncube’s remarks saying the party carries “ideas not guns.”
There are some who believe the state is labelling workers and the opposition to justify cracking down on them.
Previously, the state labelled its critics terrorists and this was followed by widespread arrests, torture and abduction of opposition leaders, human rights defenders and journalists.
More: Nehanda Radio