Zimbabwe is rapidly becoming an ever hotter issue in South Africa. Yesterday, ANC came out in support of the Congress of South African Trade Unions’ plans to visit Zimbabwe, while the SA government has criticised the trade federation’s plans. -A weakening of the international support Mugabe has enjoyed is exactly what the opposition has been hoping for, comments Niels Jacob Harbitz, HRH’s Project Manager for East Africa. (1-FEB-05)
This article was first released yesterday by the South African Press Association. It has been edited for republication here.
Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana said on Monday that Cosatu?s proposed visit will undermine relations between his department and Zimbabwe?s Department of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare. He claimed Cosatu can add nothing to the dialogue between the countries, which is already being “adequately handled” by the two governments. Said ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama: “Cosatu should go there, but respecting the laws of the country.” He reasserted that the tripartite alliance unanimously believes the visit will be a positive step towards ensuring free and fair elections in the country.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) also supports the move, saying it has specifically requested that a second Cosatu delegation visit the country, after the first delegation was “unlawfully ejected” last year. “The Cosatu delegation will arrive tomorrow. It will be led by Zwelinzima Vavi, the general secretary of Cosatu, and comprises a minimum of 18 Cosatu representatives,” said ZCTU secretary general Wellington Chibebe. The trade unions believe they have covered their bases this time.
Wing-clipped delegation
In an attempt to avoid any possible objections from the Zimbabwean government, Cosatu will not insist on meeting with the government or civil society, but will meet only with the ZCTU. It has also sent two letters to the Zimbabwean minister of labour informing him of its plans, Chibebe said. Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven insisted that these letters were a matter of “courtesy” and that they are not legally required to ask permission to visit the country. “Trade unions send delegations to other countries on a daily basis, without having to seek government permission. Provided the members comply with the laws of the country, there are no grounds on which the government can refuse permission,” he said.
Human rights to be discussed
The Zimbabwean government disagrees, however. Spokesperson Major Anyway Mutambudzi said there are “procedures” that need to be followed before such a visit will be allowed. He was not able to say whether Cosatu has indeed followed the necessary procedures. Despite being specifically requested by the ZCTU to visit the country, Mdladlana and the Zimbabwean government said there is absolutely no reason why Cosatu should take this step. “I would advise the leadership of Cosatu not to make a mistake by coming to Zimbabwe,” Mdladlana said. In a statement, both labour ministers said they are not opposed to fraternal relations between Cosatu and the ZCTU. The reason for Cosatu?s visit is “so that trade unionists of the two countries can debate the trade union situation and the human rights situation in the country [Zimbabwe]”, Chibebe said.
Sent packing last time
Mutambudzi and Simon Moyo, Zimbabwe?s envoy to South Africa, insist that Cosatu?s visit is inappropriate and offensive. “We don?t allow a particular labour organisation in a country to come and meddle in our affairs. They are losing focus,” Mutambudzi said. In October last year, the first Cosatu delegation to Zimbabwe was sent packing after spending only a few hours in the country. They were mysteriously hustled on to a bus in the middle of the night and deposited at Beit Bridge, the border post between the two countries.
-A matter of time
-No matter the outcome of this second attempt of Cosatu to visit Zimbabwe, the message is already clear; that South Africa, easily the most important guarantor of Mugabe?s continued reign, is becoming ever more torn over this issue. Last week, it emerged that the aging Zimbabwean president can no longer trust the ANC to back whatever move he makes. Now, it is quite clear that the huge and very influential Cosatu is also seriously concerned, not the least about the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. Even if it is a rather different issue for a government to turn against a former friend and ally, my prediction is that it is only a question of time before the SA government follows suit and takes to criticising Mugabe openly. Many government members in Pretoria are probably just waiting for the right occasion, an even more blatant violation of citizens and human rights than what we have seen so far, concludes Harbitz, who, on behalf of HRH, has followed the developments in Zimbabwe closely for a long time.
