Authorities in Zimbabwe on Sept. 13 arrested more than 250 trade unionists and other civilians, including approximately 100 women and several infants, following peaceful protests throughout the country. Many of the protesters were beaten and allegedly tortured by police (see story), according to press reports.

Among those arrested was Wellington Chibebe (left), secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions  (ZCTU) and recipient of the AFL-CIO's 2003 George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award, who was reported in "very serious" condition with a broken arm and hand and cuts on his head. Chibebe, who was hospitalized but has been granted free bail, told one newspaper that after their arrest union leaders were taken in pairs to cells where police beat them with bars and batons.

Meanwhile, AFT member Harold Rogers from Chicago was among a delegation from the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists who were denied entry into Zimbabwe on Sept. 22 when they attempted to meet with ZCTU leaders. (Rogers was in the region to attend a Congress of South African Trade Unions conference in Johannesburg.) The delegation was led by William Lucy, secretary-treasurer of AFSCME and chairman of the international committee of the AFL-CIO and CBTU president. On Sept. 28 Lucy led a briefing at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C., on the situation in Zimbabwe and showed a 12-minute video of the Sept. 13 attacks he obtained while in Africa. Reuters reports that Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe said the union leaders "deserved the beating" because they had "defied authority."

Earlier in the month the AFT joined an AFL-CIO-led rally outside the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Washington, D.C., to demand the immediate release of Chibebe and all the imprisoned trade unionists and others who participated in the protest. Additional demonstrations were held at embassies around the world to keep up the pressure on the Zimbabwean government.

"These unprovoked arrests and harassment are a continuation of your government's failure to abide by internationally recognized human rights and labor standards," said AFT president Edward J. McElroy in a letter to Zimbabwe Ambassador Machivenyika Mapuranga. "We strongly condemn the arrests and beatings of these labor leaders and demand that you take immediate action to secure the release of Mr. Chibebe and his colleagues."

Chibebe, who is now at home recovering from his injuries, is scheduled to go on trial with 30 other ZCTU members in early November. They are charged with participating in an illegal demonstration.

AFT members can help in this effort by sending a letter of protest to Ambassador Machivenyika Mapuranga, Embassy of Zimbabwe, 1608 New Hampshire Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Please send an e-mail to Gregory King at gking@aft.org to let us know that you have sent a letter.

Updated: Oct. 19, 2006