SA Trade Union to shutdown Beitbridge border

The' Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (COSATU) will stage a  solidarity march with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions on Wednesday.

"The protest comes as Trade Unions in SouthAfrica, Nigeria and Botswana are standing in solidarity with workers and Trade Unionists in Zimbabwe who are being persecuted, incarcerated, beaten and tortured by the State." COSATU said.

COSATU is demanding a release of Trade Union leaders in Zimbabwe and has affirmed its support for demands by the ZCTU.

Meanwhile the UNI Africa Regional Secretary Keith Jacobs condemned the fierce violence in Zimbabwe and called for the immediate release of ZCTU General Secretary Japhet Moyo.

"Japhet Moyo is no terrorist," said UNI Africa Regional Secretary Keith Jacobs. "All that Japhet wants is economic prosperity and stability for the people and workers of Zimbabwe.  We are calling on the Zimbabwe government to unconditionally release Japhet Moyo now."

"We are outraged by this brutal crackdown by the government of Zimbabwe on its own people. When a government turns the security apparatus and guns on their own citizens, they no longer deserve power," said Jacobs. "The situation in Zimbabwe is dire – trade union leaders are being arrested on trumped up charges or in hiding, and ordinary civilians are being attacked."

"We will not stand by in silence whilst this violence continues and we offer our full solidarity and support to our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters."