LABOR ACTION LOOMS IN ZIMBABWE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000857

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND E. LOKEN
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2017
TAGS: PHUM ELAB ZI
SUBJECT: LABOR ACTION LOOMS IN ZIMBABWE

REF: A. 06 HARARE 01163

B. HARARE 00301

Classified By: POLOFF Scott Higgins, reason: 1.4 d

--------------
The Tale of Two Zimbabwes -- April and Today
--------------


1. (U) The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU),the
country's largest labor group, is calling for a two-day
stay-away on September 19-20 to protest a recent ban on wage
increases and worsening socio-economic conditions. During
the past week, ZCTU has placed announcements for the
stay-away in the three independent weekly newspapers and has
distributed flyers to drum up support for the labor action.
Additionally, ZCTU organizers hope to leverage the wide media
coverage of the one-year anniversary of the government's
brutal attacks on senior ZCTU leaders during a demonstration
on September 13, 2006 (reftel A).


2. (U) In April, the government used a massive show of force
to quickly diffuse the last ZCTU stay-away, which had
initially shown signs of solid support and growing momentum
(reftel B). ZCTU Information Officer Khumbulani Ndlovu
pointed out to us on September 18 that, since April, the mood
has grown significantly more restive as a result of the
prolonged shortages, and Zimbabweans were looking for a way
to express their frustrations.


3. (U) For its part, the government has taken several steps
to quell support for the stay-away. In a typical move meant
to foster confusion among workers, the latest edition of the
government-controlled Sunday Mail carried the headline
"Salaries Not Frozen." Additionally, ZCTU President
Wellington Chibebe reported that, during the past week,
security agents had hauled in labor leaders in Bulawayo,
Masvingo, Plumtree and Mutare for interrogation. Ndlovu told
us that police had arrested three ZCTU members on September
17 for distributing flyers about the stay-away in an
industrial area of Harare. The three remain in custody
pending charges; however, contrary to press reports, Ndlovu
said that they were not severely assaulted. There were also
reports that security agents were visiting businesses and
threatening workers to show up for work.

--------------
A Question of Tactics
--------------


4. (C) ZCTU affiliate leaders Raymond Majongwe, general
secretary of the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe

SIPDIS
(PTUZ),and Gertrude Hambira, general secretary of the
General Agriculture and Plantation Workers' Union of Zimbabwe
(GAPWUZ) told POLOFF on September 19 that while they were
hoping for a successful stay-away, they questioned the
concept of the planned labor action. With 80 percent
unemployment and more jobs being lost every day, Zimbabweans
were already staying home, so what was the point of the
action? Adding to poor chances of success was poor
communication to workers -- the ZCTU executive council did
not provide the affiliates with flyers about the stay-away
until September 15.

--------------
Comment

HARARE 00000857 002 OF 002


--------------


5. (C) Despite tremendous dissatisfaction of most Zimbabweans
with the current economic situation, and despite the optimism
of some ZCTU leaders that the stay-away will be successful, a
combination of low employment, lack of knowledge about the
stay-away, and government intimidation would seem to indicate
low participation. We will monitor the extent of
participation and the government response. End Comment.
DHANANI