Brussels, 13/05/2008
Zimbabwe police arrested President Lovemore Motombo and Secretary General Wellington Chibebe on 8 May 2008, after raiding their homes two days earlier. The ETUC understands that they face unsubstantiated charges of allegedly ‘inciting people to rise against the government and reporting falsehoods about people being killed’, following speeches they made on May Day.
The ETUC is extremely concerned about their welfare, in view of the brutal treatment meted out to trade unionists in Zimbabwe on several previous occasions.
“We strongly urge the Commission to work for the immediately release of Lovemore Motombo and Wellington Chibebe, for the dropping of all charges, and for guarantees of their physical integrity and well-being,” said ETUC General Secretary John Monks.