Ei-iE

Latest reports from Zimbabwe show that more teachers than originally known were arrested in this week's crackdown by the Mugabe government in response to demonstrations protesting the financial and humanitarian crisis. In fact, of the 14 arrested, four remain in prison.

Leaders and activists of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, including PTUZ General Secretary Raymond Majongwe, were among those caught up in the massive arrests conducted by government forces across the country on 3 December.

Majongwe and PTUZ National Coordinator, Oswald Madziwa, were arrested in Harare and held for questioning for six hours, after which they were released.

PTUZ President, Takavafira Zhou, and PTUZ Masvingo Coordinator, Chauke Munyaradzi, and five other PTUZ staff members were arrested and detained in Masvingo. PTUZ Matabeleland Coordinator, Enoch Paradzai, was arrested and detained in Bulawayo. All of the teachers were released the same day. No charges were laid against any of them.

Still in police custody on 5 December after 48 hours' detention are:

PTUZ Midlands Coordinator, Wilbert Muringane PTUZ Gokwe Coordinator, Moses Mhaka PTUZ member Julius Tariro and PTUZ member Cde Magushwa

They are among more than 30 trade unionists who were arrested in Gweru.

EI has written a letter of protest to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe requesting respect for trade union rights and the ability of trade unionists to exercise those rights freely.

Below is the text of the letter sent to the Zimbabwean president by EI:

H. E. Robert G. Mugabe Office of the President Private Bag 7700 Causeway Harare Zimbabwe

Fax: + 26 3.4.708 211

Brussels, 5 December 2008

Mr President,

I write to you on behalf of Education International (EI), the Global Union Federation of education unions, to express EI's condemnation of the arrest and detention of union activists in connection with a nationwide ZCTU demonstration.

In total over 60 union leaders and activists have been arrested on 3 December, and among them leaders and members of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ).

PTUZ General Secretary, Raymond Majongwe, and PTUZ National Coordinator, Oswald Madziwa, were arrested on 3 December in Harare and were questioned. They were released after 6 hours detention. PTUZ President, Takavafira Zhou, and PTUZ Masvingo Coordinator, Chauke Munyaradzi, and five other PTUZ staff members were arrested and detained in Masvingo. They were released the same day. PTUZ Matabeleland Coordinator, Enoch Paradzai, was arrested and detained in Bulawayo and was released the same day. No charges were presented against any of them.

PTUZ colleagues arrested in Gweru were still in police custody, on 5 December at 12am local time, after 48 hours detention. PTUZ Midlands Coordinator, Wilbert Muringane, PTUZ Gokwe Coordinator, Moses Mhaka, as well as two PTUZ members, Julius Tariro and Cde Magushwa, are among the over 30 trade unionists arrested in Gweru.

EI requests the Government of Zimbabwe to guarantee, in all circumstances, the right of workers’ organisations to exercise activities relating to the conditions of work and economic and social policy. EI also requests that trade unionists, journalists and human rights defenders be allowed to operate without harassment.

Sincerely yours,

Fred van Leeuwen General Secretary