Unions pile pressure on Mnangangwa's government

International labour unions are ratcheting up pressure on President Emmerson Mnangagwa following the recent arrest and harassment of labour activists, saying his administration must respect workers' right.

Last month, police arrested several trade unionists including Zimbabwe Congress Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Peter Mutasa and secretary-general Japhet Moyo after they successfully called for a three-day national shut-down to protest steep increases in fuel prices.

Workers' unions from Botswana, Nigeria and South Africa have threatened to lobby the international community to shutdown Zimbabwean embassies over alleged human rights abuses.

This came after State security agents were deployed by government to ruthlessly crush dissent in the wake of fuel protests last month that turned violent.  

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) members on Friday last week stormed the Zimbabwean embassy in Abuja, demanding the release of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leaders who were arrested and charged with treason for their alleged roles in the January 14 stayaway.