Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HARARE275
2007-04-02 15:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
VIOLENCE ANTICIPATED AS LABOR UNION CALLS FOR
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000275
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
USAID FOR M. COPSON AND E. LOKEN
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ELAB ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE ANTICIPATED AS LABOR UNION CALLS FOR
NATIONWIDE STAYAWAY
REF: A. HARARE 00269
B. 06 HARARE 00077
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.5 b/d
-------
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000275
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
USAID FOR M. COPSON AND E. LOKEN
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ELAB ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE ANTICIPATED AS LABOR UNION CALLS FOR
NATIONWIDE STAYAWAY
REF: A. HARARE 00269
B. 06 HARARE 00077
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.5 b/d
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
nationwide stay-away is set for April 3 and 4. The stay-away
is ostensibly a protest against dismal wages and worsening
economic conditions. However, it comes in the charged
atmosphere caused by the government crack down on dissent and
is seen by both the government and the opposition as a test
of strength. There are no indications of how many workers
plan to participate but public awareness appears to be high,
fueled in part by government efforts to suppress observance.
The ZCTU expects government violence in response. End
Summary.
--------------
Government Harassment
--------------
2. (U) The ZCTU has called for a nationwide stay-away on
April 3 and 4 to "say no to hunger, poverty, unemployment,
corruption, runaway inflation, and diseases." Although the
stay-away was initially called to protest deteriorating
economic conditions it has taken on added importance in the
wake of the government's mass arrests, abductions, torture
and killing of opposition activists since the March 11
disruption of the Save Zimbabwe prayer rally (Reftels).
3. (C) Both the government and the opposition see the
stay-away as test of strength. Since the stay-away was
announced on February 24, the government has stepped-up its
harassment of the ZCTU, threatening reprisals for workers who
participate. On March 14 police raided the ZCTU offices in
Harare and temporarily detained staff while searching for
"subversive materials." On March 27 police raided ZCTU
offices in Gweru, Chinhoyi and Mutare also looking for
information and materials about the stay-away.
--------------
But the Word is Out
--------------
4. (SBU) Despite the raids and intimidation, Khumbulani
Ndlovu, ZCTU information minister, was confident that
information about the stay-away was reaching workers
throughout the country via flyers, the media and word of
mouth. Over the weekend, ZCTU ran advertisements in the
independent newspapers and the international media (including
the popular radio news broadcasts from Voice of America
Studio 7 and SWAfrica Radio) covered the story.
5. (U) Moreover, the government-controlled press also has
been advertising the stay-away, albeit perhaps
unintentionally. The Sunday Mail ran an article by Labor
Minister Nicolas Goche imploring workers to ignore the
stay-away and accusing the ZCTU of aligning with the
"Western-backed violence aimed at regime change in Zimbabwe."
Additionally, the headline of the April 2 edition of The
HARARE 00000275 002 OF 002
Herald blared "Call for stayaway rapped" followed by a story
asserting there was "widespread condemnation from the labor
body's affiliates, the government and ordinary people." Both
articles helpfully increased public awareness of the protest.
--------------
Labor Expects Government Violence
--------------
6. (C) ZCTU has no public demonstrations planned in
conjunction with the stay-away. However, they nonetheless
expect the government to use violence to intimidate workers
and thwart the labor action. Ndlovu said ZCTU had
information the government planned to bus in 300 - 400 youths
from the rural area to unleash violence against workers who
don't report to work. She believed the youth militia might
even go to workers' homes in the high-density areas to force
them to go to their jobs.
--------------
Comment
--------------
7. (C) Previous stay-aways have been relatively unsuccessful,
in part because workers could not afford to take even a day
off without pay. Now, however, wages are so low that they
have little to lose. In addition, stay-aways are a
relatively passive form of protest so more workers may
participate. Still, despite the fact that there will be no
open challenge to the government, we share the ZCTU's
expectation of government-sponsored violence. It is likely
to be focused on MDC strongholds, such as Harare's
high-density neighborhoods, and within those neighborhoods to
be indiscriminate; designed both to punish and deter.
DELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
USAID FOR M. COPSON AND E. LOKEN
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ELAB ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE ANTICIPATED AS LABOR UNION CALLS FOR
NATIONWIDE STAYAWAY
REF: A. HARARE 00269
B. 06 HARARE 00077
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.5 b/d
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
nationwide stay-away is set for April 3 and 4. The stay-away
is ostensibly a protest against dismal wages and worsening
economic conditions. However, it comes in the charged
atmosphere caused by the government crack down on dissent and
is seen by both the government and the opposition as a test
of strength. There are no indications of how many workers
plan to participate but public awareness appears to be high,
fueled in part by government efforts to suppress observance.
The ZCTU expects government violence in response. End
Summary.
--------------
Government Harassment
--------------
2. (U) The ZCTU has called for a nationwide stay-away on
April 3 and 4 to "say no to hunger, poverty, unemployment,
corruption, runaway inflation, and diseases." Although the
stay-away was initially called to protest deteriorating
economic conditions it has taken on added importance in the
wake of the government's mass arrests, abductions, torture
and killing of opposition activists since the March 11
disruption of the Save Zimbabwe prayer rally (Reftels).
3. (C) Both the government and the opposition see the
stay-away as test of strength. Since the stay-away was
announced on February 24, the government has stepped-up its
harassment of the ZCTU, threatening reprisals for workers who
participate. On March 14 police raided the ZCTU offices in
Harare and temporarily detained staff while searching for
"subversive materials." On March 27 police raided ZCTU
offices in Gweru, Chinhoyi and Mutare also looking for
information and materials about the stay-away.
--------------
But the Word is Out
--------------
4. (SBU) Despite the raids and intimidation, Khumbulani
Ndlovu, ZCTU information minister, was confident that
information about the stay-away was reaching workers
throughout the country via flyers, the media and word of
mouth. Over the weekend, ZCTU ran advertisements in the
independent newspapers and the international media (including
the popular radio news broadcasts from Voice of America
Studio 7 and SWAfrica Radio) covered the story.
5. (U) Moreover, the government-controlled press also has
been advertising the stay-away, albeit perhaps
unintentionally. The Sunday Mail ran an article by Labor
Minister Nicolas Goche imploring workers to ignore the
stay-away and accusing the ZCTU of aligning with the
"Western-backed violence aimed at regime change in Zimbabwe."
Additionally, the headline of the April 2 edition of The
HARARE 00000275 002 OF 002
Herald blared "Call for stayaway rapped" followed by a story
asserting there was "widespread condemnation from the labor
body's affiliates, the government and ordinary people." Both
articles helpfully increased public awareness of the protest.
--------------
Labor Expects Government Violence
--------------
6. (C) ZCTU has no public demonstrations planned in
conjunction with the stay-away. However, they nonetheless
expect the government to use violence to intimidate workers
and thwart the labor action. Ndlovu said ZCTU had
information the government planned to bus in 300 - 400 youths
from the rural area to unleash violence against workers who
don't report to work. She believed the youth militia might
even go to workers' homes in the high-density areas to force
them to go to their jobs.
--------------
Comment
--------------
7. (C) Previous stay-aways have been relatively unsuccessful,
in part because workers could not afford to take even a day
off without pay. Now, however, wages are so low that they
have little to lose. In addition, stay-aways are a
relatively passive form of protest so more workers may
participate. Still, despite the fact that there will be no
open challenge to the government, we share the ZCTU's
expectation of government-sponsored violence. It is likely
to be focused on MDC strongholds, such as Harare's
high-density neighborhoods, and within those neighborhoods to
be indiscriminate; designed both to punish and deter.
DELL