COSATU Today [5] Thursday 4 December 2008

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is urging all its members and the wider community to join the Buy South African campaign on 6-7 December 2008, when workers and consumers will be picketing at shopping malls throughout the country to persuade shoppers to buy locally produced products. The malls so far identified are listed below and further details will follow.

The current global financial crisis has already resulted in a slowdown in the economy. Retrenchments have already begun, in the mines, the car industry and elsewhere. Many more employers in South Africa are threatening to lay off workers as a result of this downturn in the world economy, in which they are already finding it harder unable to sell their products in international markets because of this economic downturn.

As a result, workers are facing a black Christmas in 2008. Even the majority of employed workers will not have enough money during this festive season to spend with their families after months of hard toil in factories and other places of work. They will not have enough to pay for their children's education at the beginning of 2009. For the unemployed it will be a grim, miserable Christmas.

COSATU believes that one of the best ways to turn the tide, save and create jobs and reduce the cost of living is to buy local. This will help boost the domestic economy by increasing demand for locally produced goods and thus save and create jobs in the firms that manufacture them. This will be helped by falling value of the rand which will make local goods cheaper than imports here, and more competitive overseas, which will enable SA firms to offset the worldwide decline in demand.

Both workers and consumers will benefit. More workers will be employed and prices will come down - but only if we succeed in persuading us, the consumers, to buy South African and support our local economy.

But we also demand that local firms seize the opportunity. They must not just raise their prices to the same level as imported goods so they can make a quick profit, while consumers still have to pay high prices. They need to take advantage of the falling rand to expand production and keep prices down. Since they will be more competitive on both the world and domestic markets, and should be able to expand production and employ more workers.

Identified Malls and Shopping Centres for blitzing / distribution of Buy Local leaflets, 6 to 7 December 2008, 12h00-14h00

Gauteng

· Vaal, Thabang Plaza in Sebokeng

· Ekurhuleni, East Rand Mall

· Tshwane, Sammy Mark Square in Menlyn Shopping Centre

· Johannesburg, Maponya Mall in Jabulane

Western Cape

· SANLAM Centre in Parow

KwaZulu Natal (details to follow)

· Durban, Pinetown

· Pietermaritzburg

· Richards Bay

· Ladysmith

· Newcastle

· Port Shepstone

Free State (details to follow)

· Bloemfontein

· Botshabelo

· Bethlehem

· Qwaqwa

· Harrismith

· Welkom

· Ficksburg

North West (details to follow)

· Rustenburg, Shopping Mall

· Potchefstroom, Shopping Mall

· Klerksdorp, Shopping Mall

· Mafikeng, Shopping Mall

· Moses Kotane, Shopping Complex

Mpumalanga

· Secunda CBD, Embalenhle Mall

· Nelspruit CBD, Riverside Mall

· Kwa Ndebele, Siyabuswa Mall

· Witbank CBD, Highveld Mall, Emalahleni

· Ermelo CBD, SHOPRITE Complex

Limpopo

· Giyani, Masingitha Mall

· Makhado, Makhado Crossing

· Polokwane, Savannah Mall

· Mokopane, P n P Mall

· Tzaneen, Tzaneen Crossing

· Thohoyandou (Far North), Venda Plaza

· Sibasa (Far North), MVuludzo

Northern Cape

· Kimberley, Pavilion Mall

· Kimberley CBD, Pick n Pay Mall

Eastern Cape (details to follow)

· East London

· Queenstown

· Port Elizabeth

Patrick Craven, COSATU Spokesperson, 082 821 7456, 011 339 4911, pat...@cosatu.org.za

1.2 China Quota and local jobs

SACTWU, 3 December 2008

The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu) has noted the comments made by the Director General of the DTI today regarding the quota agreement with China.

We agree with government that the quota has been very helpful to local industry. From our research, it is clear that more than 10 000 local jobs have been saved as a result of the quota.

Using the US dollar which is the trading currency for imports, official SARS figures show the following:

For the first full year of the quota (2007), total imports of clothing products inside the quota from China dropped by 52% compared to the previous year.

For 2007, total imports of all clothing products from China dropped by 31% compared to the previous year. This can be contrasted with an increase of 730% in the four year period before the quota was instituted (2002 – 2006).

For 2007, total imports of clothing from all countries dropped by 12% compared to the previous year. This can be contrasted with an increase of 480% in the four year period before the quota was instituted (2002 – 2006).

For the first 9 months of 2008 – the latest period for which data is available - imports of clothing products in the quota from China are 45% lower than what they were in the comparable period before the quota, ie 2006.

For the first 9 months of 2008, imports of all clothing from China are 17% lower than what they were in the comparable period before the quota, ie 2006.

The volumes of imports have also slowed down compared to the period prior to the quota.

For the first 9 months of 2008, imports of clothing products from all countries measures in volume or quantity of imports (not by price) were 44% lower than what they were in the comparable period before the quota.

Without the quota, based on the exponential growth of clothing imports, we would have lost tens of thousands of additional jobs.

In our view, because the quota is governed by a bilateral agreement between the executive authorities of two countries – rather than an imposition as a result of an administrative tribunal - no new application is needed for its extension. Instead, the two governments should review the impact of the quota and consider the value of extending it.

There are compelling reasons to extend the quota or to put in place equivalent trade support measures. The long-awaited industry plan has been finalised and is close to being announced by government. It entails a major competitiveness programme focussed on plant upgrades, improvements in machinery and worker training, support for fashion design and innovation, ethical trading practices as well as improvements in the supply-chain.

Without such measures in place, thousands of jobs will be lost before the competitiveness plan has any effect.

Issued by the SA Clothing & Textile Workers Union (SACTWU). Call 021-4474570.

1.3 CWU statement on Vodacom share sales

Joe Chauke, 3 December 2008

Communication Workers Union (CWU) supports the South African Communist Party's position that Telkom is being handed over to the British by the sale of a controlling interest in Vodacom to UK-based Vodaphone.

CWU resolved in its Central Executive Committee meeting held in October 2008 that restructuring in parastatals should be put on hold until after the National General Elections. This was informed by a resolution of the ANC Polokwane National Conference that the role of state owned enterprises should be strengthened and that they should act in terms of economic transformation objectives of the ANC which are based on, amongst others, job creation and fighting unemployment.

Subsequently, CWU held a meeting with Telkom where CWU was informed of Telkom's intention to sell its stake in Vodacom. CWU's position was that if they want to sell the stake they can do so but to government, i.e. government must buy back. The meeting also dealt with what the company (Telkom) call capability management which is in essence restructuring. An agreement was reached that a moratorium be put on restructuring.

It has come to CWU's attention that there are some elements in Telkom who have continued to position themselves as beneficiaries of the sale of entities in Telkom and that these elements have links with foreigners, and the links also extend to some elements in government who have links with COPE. Therefore the call by the South African Communist Party is not far-fetched.

CWU therefore calls for:

· Government must buy back shares sold by Telkom to Vodaphone.

· An investigation into restructuring of parastatals that are under the Department of Communications.

· An investigation into the behaviour of Telkom in this whole transaction.

· The disciplining of elements in Telkom who may be found to be in the wrong in this saga.

· The scrapping of the whole dubious restructuring in Telkom.

Issued by Communication Workers Union

Contact Person Joe Chauke, 072 463 1488

1.4 NUMSA CC to tackle anti-revolutionary projects

Mziwakhe Hlangani, 3 December 2008

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) Central Committee is to meet next week to deliberate on the looming economic, financial crisis and emerging opportunistic counter revolutionary ventures.

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande are expected to present the current political outlook and how the alliance should manage the current critical political events.

Numsa Central Committee meeting scheduled for December 8-12, 2008 at Numsa Training Centre, will also look into the organizational building four- year master plan following its successful elective national congress in October 2008.

It will also reconsider its position and power to influence the oncoming new ANC administration in 2009 in order to stop continued privatization of state-owned enterprises, such Eskom, Telkom, Sasol and many others.

Mziwakhe Hlangani, Spokesperson, 082 940 7116, 011 689 1700, mziw...@numsa.org.za

1.5 DENOSA North West PEC

Modise Letsatsi, 3 December 2008

The DENOSA Provincial Executive Committee met over the weekend (28-30 November 2008) and reflected and resolved on the following

ON NATIONAL NURSING STRATEGY:

We reflected on the outcome of the provincial nurses lekgotla and we agree with the proposed program and in our view priority should be given to Social positioning of nursing, nursing practice and resources for nursing .

ON FORMER MORETELETSI STAFF:

The PEC noted with concern the unwarranted intimidation and coercion of former Moreteletsi staff based at Bapong clinic by the Moses Kotane sub district manager who has conveniently ignored decisions taken between us and the district management in December 2007 already about the said workers, including the MOU concluded before the closure of Moreteletsi hospital.

We strongly condemn this attitude and demand those workers be left alone until the opening of the new Moses Kotane Hospital as per the MOU.

We would rather the sub district manager paid attention to providing administrative and managerial leadership to pressing issues like, ensuring that clinics are provided with cell phones where there is no land line, security for staff to stem the attacks on staff as happened in LEDIG clinic recently where nurses were accosted by armed people, and other important service delivery matters because on the issue of the said workers there is decision already.

We are therefore saying the new Hospital is about to be opened and we should be focusing on processes leading to the opening of the new hospital including training of the affected staff members.

ON 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AND WORLD AIDS DAY:

We fully support the campaign against the abuse of women and children and in that regard the union will be conducting awareness campaigns in five regions across the province for the duration of the sixteen days and beyond.

ON the 10th of December 2008 the union will embark on a know-your-status campaign during which the leadership will take VCT in public.

We would like to call upon leaders and members of COSATU and the alliance in general and in particular nurses to join us at JOB TABANE HOSPITAL in Rustenburg and TAUNG HOSPITAL for public VCT with the sole aim of encouraging our members and the general public to know their status.

ON the 88% INCREASE IN SANC FEES:

We are satisfied with the steps taken by the NEC to engage the South African Nursing Council with the view to review this unacceptable increase.

ON OSD:

We are going ahead with conciliation on the 2008-12-05.Our attorneys have been instructed to proceed with application for contempt of court against the department of health since they have thus far failed to comply with the court order to reverse deductions.

ON ELECTIONS:

The PEC noted the stage managed, staggered and headline-hogging defections from the ANC whose aim is to defocus the movement from the elections program. We would therefore urge activists of the movement to resist the temptation of reacting to the defectors as this only serves to dignify the defections.

In the North West DENOSA will be campaigning for a decisive ANC victory in all elections including the upcoming 2009 general election. We are therefore saying to all workers and in particular nurses that your health is your future, vote ANC.

Issued by Modise Letsatsi, DENOSA North West Provincial Secretary, 082 411 3545, 018 392 1303, let...@webmail.co.za/lets...@denosa.org.za

1.6 Rule of law should not be applied selectively

Benzi ka-Soko, 3 December 2008

The principle of accountability enshrined in the constitution of the republic of South Africa must not be applied selectively. The constitution is the supreme law of the land.

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) decided to support the call made by SASFU that former Defence Minister and his Deputy must account for the missing weapons during their tenure because we view the country’s constitution as sacrosanct. We believe that the stipulations in the constitution dealing with accountability are crucially fundamental to ensure that our democracy is deepened and protected.

SASFU has made an assertion that a large quantity of weapons got missing during the tenure of both Mosiuoa Lekota and Mluleki George. The latter has since responded by saying he was not responsible for handling weapons. This response is, by implication, an admission by Mr. George that indeed weapons did disappear.

POPCRU ‘s concern is informed by the fact that criminals using heavy caliber weapons are currently killing the people of this country and police officers. It is an open secret that crime perpetration in this country is executed through the use of heavy caliber weaponry as attested by the 2006 Jeppestown Massacre where police officers were brutally murdered. It is therefore our view that all peace-loving South Africans should be concerned that there are weapons whose whereabouts are still not known today. We are doing everything possible to ensure that this country becomes a crime-free society that we all envision. We cannot sleep peacefully knowing that perhaps certain faceless people are in possession of these weapons.

We have taken this principled position for the simple reason that we are defenders of the rule of law as captured in the constitution of our country. We also know for a fact that there are state resources that were under the name of the now-defunct Directorate of Special Operations (The Scorpions), which must be accounted for. We will approach the relevant law enforcing agencies to lay formal charges against the responsible individuals.

It is our view that the application of the rule of law should not be applied selectively, but all people of this country should be treated with equal respect and dignity as demanded by our world acclaimed constitution. We are looking forward to the concretization of the establishment of the new crime fighting unit for priority crimes which we believe will maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of all structures assigned to deal with organized crime.

In conclusion, we would like to register our concern that a worrying number of our soldiers assigned in peacekeeping missions abroad are dying as a result of HIV and AIDS. These soldiers are bearing the brunt of Lekota’s refusal to make provision for Anti Retroviral Treatment. We demand that the Supreme Court Ruling be implemented as a matter of extreme urgency failing which POPCRU will request an audience with the Constitutional Court of South Africa to seek urgent recourse.

Benzi ka-Soko, POPCRU Spokesperson, 082 732 6324, 011 242 4600, ben...@popcru.org.za

South Africa

2.1 Manifesto Policy Conference

Jessie Duarte, 1 December 2008

The African National Congress concluded its successful Manifesto Policy Conference yesterday (30 November 2008).

It was attended by more than 800 delegates, representing ANC provinces and regions, the ANC Women's League and ANC Youth League, Alliance partners, and representatives of the mass democratic movement (religious organisations, AIDS activists, women's organisations and business).

The scope of the discussion was set out by ANC President Jacob Zuma in his opening address, who noted that the ANC has put in place comprehensive policies at its 52nd National Conference in Polokwane and that the Manifesto Conference must develop these into decisive measures to address the various challenges that the country faces.

The Conference was preceded by a series of consultative processes, including the Alliance, the mass democratic movement, business and religious organisations. We have also received more than 1,700 suggestions from the public, through the 'My ANC. My Vision. My Future'.

The various suggestions from the public were collated into a composite report that formed part of the discussions at the Conference.

The Conference re-affirmed the five key priorities identified by the ANC, which will require urgent attention to eradicate the high levels of inequality, unemployment and poverty in the country. These five priorities are:

· Decent work : The ANC will pursue policies that strengthen the link between economic development and decent work. It will upscale the public investment programme in line with available resources, and implement an industrial policy that assists in maintaining growth.

· Education : The ANC has already started a campaign to improve our education system and will increase investment in this sector. Measures will be adopted to improve the quality of education, particularly in maths and science; improve teacher training; and in making schooling more accessible to the poor.

· Health : We are committing ourselves to the progressive implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) system and the measurable upgrading of public health facilities. We have recommitted ourselves to making a meaningful difference to the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, in particular reducing the number of new infections, ensuring that all who need ARV treatment have access to it, and putting in place more effective partnership in the form of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC).

· Crime : The ANC will address the unacceptable levels of crime in this country. We will aim to bring the levels of contact crime down by 7-10% per year. We will increase the capacity of the South African Police Service (SAPS) through recruitment, rigorous training, better remuneration, and increasing the capacity of the especially the detective services and forensics. The ANC will continue to protecting our constitutional freedoms such as freedom of expression, independence of the judiciary and freedom of association.

· Rural Development : Land reform is to be expanded, implemented more rigorously, and linked to the creation of economic opportunities on a mass scale, with vastly improved post-settlement support. Infrastructure programmes will be reviewed and expanded to make them relevant to rural needs.

The Conference noted that the world has changed significantly since the 2004 elections and the ANC must continue to adapt to these changes. One of the most important factors impacting on our ability to respond to the challenges is the global financial crisis, which will have negative effects on production and employment.

We have costed plans in place to address issues of increasing the levels of employment through public employment schemes.

The ANC has had 14 years in government and we have learnt from our experience, both the positive and negative. We will use this experience to improve service delivery and accountability and to accelerate change.

The ANC will continue to keep in place the existing social security measures and extend them to those still in need, in line with the Polokwane Resolution. As in the past, the extension of grants will be linked to considerations of affordability.

The Conference emphasised the position that the ANC approaches the development of its manifesto with great care and extensive consultation because it knows that the ANC will have to bear the responsibility of actually implementing its manifesto.

On 10 January next year, the ANC will launch a manifesto that is realistic and achievable, that is sustainable, and whose commitments can be matched by available resources.

The ANC welcomes the discussion and debates that are taking place about its manifesto. It welcomes in particular the many people who have made contributions, and who continue to make contributions.

The ANC will make every effort to ensure that their suggestions, concerns, hopes and aspirations are adequately represented in the mandate that we are seeking for the next five years.

Issued by African National Congress

Spokes: Jessie Duarte, 079 506 6756, jdu...@anc.org.za; Carl Niehaus, 072 343 4007, cnie...@anc.org.za

Queries: Ishmael Mnisi 082 333 5550, imn...@anc.org.za; Brian Sokutu 071 671 6919, bso...@anc.org.za

2.2 YCL National Rally, Alexandra, 14 December 2008

Alex Mashilo, 3 December 2008

All revolutionaries are hereby invited to join Young Communists in a national rally to be held on 14 December 2008; 10:00; Alexandra Stadium. This rally will be addressed by senior leaders of the SACP, the ANC and COSATU over and above Young Communists who will present a feedback from the organization’s National Council to be held from 11 – 13 December 2008 and unveil the final round strategy on the forthcoming National and Provincial Government elections. One of the key themes of the rally is the forthcoming National and Provincial Government elections.

All those who will be interested to attend the rally are humbly requested to send their names and departure points to Alex Mashilo at al...@numsa.org.za. Buses will be available to and fro the rally.

As stated above, the rally will be preceded by the YCLSA National Council. The planned programme of this Council includes a march to the SABC in Auckland Park to demand, among others that:

· The SABC Board must dismiss itself with due respect and immediate effect otherwise face more serious action of a democratically forced removal

· must comply with objective reporting rather than the factional role in which it is engraved; and

· must prioritize local content as this has a direct economic benefit to South Africans and particularly young people who will get opportunity in performing arts and other programmes, and scale down a lot of the repeat stories that illustrate poor content planning

Regards,

Mashilo, Alex Mohubetswane

2.3 Blade Nzimande talks on water

Malesela Maleka, 3 December 2008

The General Secretary of the SACP Cde Blade Nzimande, will address the KZN Water Conference as follows:

· Date: 4 December 2008

· Time: 10h40

· Venue: 1 on 1 Conference Gateway, Umhlanga Rocks, Durban

· Theme: Role of Water Boards in Developmental State

Members of the press are invited.

Malesela Maleka, SACP Spokesperson, 082 226 1802, male...@sacp.org.za

2.4 Unfair treatment of UKZN academics

Patrick Craven, 3 December 2008

The Congress of South African Trade Unions regrets the resignation of University of KwaZulu-Natal physicist, Professor Nithaya Chetty, who, together with mathematics Professor John van den Berg, was facing disciplinary action and likely dismissal on charges of "failing to take due care in communicating with the media, breaching confidentiality and dishonest and/or gross negligence". This related to their public criticisms in the media of the university's academic freedom record.

Van den Berg is reported to have signed a settlement agreement last week allowing him to keep his job and terminating disciplinary proceedings but Chetty refused to sign the settlement, which involved an apology and partial admission of guilt.

COSATU shares the concern of 35 academics from Oxford, Cambridge, Berkeley and Stanford universities who have submitted a document to the university council chairperson, Mac Mia, expressing deep concern that the disciplinary process flew in the face of "globally recognised standards regarding the rights of academic staff to speak and act on policies of their institutions".

COSATU agrees that this action is an attack on free speech and employees’ rights. The federation also supports the call on the university by the National Tertiary Education Staff Union to remove outside legal representatives from disciplinary inquiries and allow academics and students to meet freely and voice concerns about academic -freedom.

Patrick Craven, COSATU Spokesperson, 082 821 7456, 011 339 4911, pat...@cosatu.org.za

2.5 COSATU NW statement on Cope

Solly Phetoe, 3 December 2008

The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West Province calls for an investigation into all officials of government, Mayors and MECs who have resigned from the ANC, the movement of the poor and the working class, and joined the organisation of the populists, opportunists and capitalists - the organisation of people who are swimming in the dam of money or tenders that they awarded to themselves, their families and friends so that they can have a truckload of millions for their launch on 16 December 2008 and start promising people what they know that they do not have capacity to deliver.

It is clear in the province that all those who are resigning are people who had an opportunity to be councillors, MECs, mayors, or officials in strategic position in government, deployed by the ANC. Now, having corrupted the ANC in their own Departments and municipalities by using our own government resources to popularise the so-called ‘COPE’ or ‘Shikota’, they are now criticising the ANC, which was led by them when they were still enjoying the deployment, for not giving service delivery to the poor people of the North West province.

It is reported that some Mayors, MECs and government officials have been trying to destroy the ANC by popularising the ‘COPE’ for over five months. Therefore we call the Premier and the Auditor General to investigate all government officials, Mayors and MECs who have resigned from the ANC and joined ‘COPE’. We seriously call for the investigation in the Department of Social Service and the municipalities of those mayors who have resigned.

We call all our members in North West to work collectively to make sure that ANC wins the 2009 election. We give support to the ANC not for hope of personal gain, but because of our obligation and responsibility for service delivery to the poor working class and to build a better life for all.

For more information feel free to call Solly N Phetoe on 082 304 4055.

2.6 Gun Free Taxi Rank

P J Crowsley, 3 December 2008

Dear Sir/ Madam

Invitation to attend the launch of the Faraday Street Taxi Rank as a Gun Free Zone

You are cordially invited to attend the launch of the Faraday Street Taxi Rank as a Gun Free Zone.

The details of the launch are as follows;

· Date: 9 December, 2008

· Time: 13h30

· Venue: Faraday Street Taxi Rank, Cnr Eloff Street and Village Street, Johannesburg.

Your attendance will be highly appreciated.

Kind regards,

P J Crowsley, Chairperson, Gauteng, 011 403 4590, in...@gfsa.org.za, web site: www.gfsa.org.za

2.7 HIV/AIDS Commemoration Day

Sinawo, 3 December 2008

· Date: 5 December 2008

· Time: 12h00

· Venue: Ikusasa Secondary School, Emqantsa Section, Tembisa

RSVP: Sinawo, 011 394 3203

International

3.1 Arrest of Wellington Chibebe and ZCTU leaders

Khumbulani, 3 December 2008

Dear Friends,

Wellington Chibebe (Secretary General) and Lovemore Matombo (President) have managed to hand the ZCTU petition to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor.

Soon after handing it over, Chibebe proceeded to address workers but was arrested while in the process of addressing the workers. He was arrested together with 9 other people including Tonderai Nyahunzvi, Canwell Muchadya, Hillarious Ruyi, Cde Tarumbira and Joseph Chuma.

Another 10 in Harare were heavily assaulted by the police. These included Getrude Hambira (General Agricultural and Plantation Workers' Union - General Secretary), Angeline Chitambo (Zimbabwe Energy Workers' Union - President), Tecla Masamba (Communications and Allied Workers' Union of Zimbabwe), Martha Kajama (National Engineering Workers' Union of Zimbabwe) and Mirriam Katumba (Vice Chair Women's Advisory Council).

Meanwhile, Japhet Moyo (ZCTU Deputy Secretary General) Ben Madzimure (The Worker Editor), Fungayi Kanyongo (The Worker Intern), Raymond Majongwe (Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe - General Secretary), James Gumbi (Zimbabwe Rural District Council Workers' Union - General Secretary), Osward Madziwa (PTUZ) were also arrested in Harare.

In Gweru more than 25 people have been arrested. Amongst those arrested are the ZCTU Central Regional chair Charles Chikozho, Isaac Thebethebe (Central region secretary), Moses Mhaka and Wilbert Muringani (both PTUZ) and Benard Sibanda.

In Zvishavane town 6 people were arrested while at Barclays Bank. The six are Elinas Gumbo, Ndodana Sithole, Nicholas Zengeya, Isaac Matsikidze, Sarudzai Chimwanda, and David Moyo. They are being held at Zvishavane police station.

In most parts of the country, workers managed to hand in petitions to the RBZ offices.

Khumbulani Ndlovu

Information Officer

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions

P.O. Box 3549

Harare

e-mail: in...@zctu.co.zw

website: www.zctu.co.zw

263-11620231

3.2 ZCTU action update

Khumbulani Ndlovu, 3 December 2008

A total of 69 demonstrators have been arrested throughout the country. The following is the update from around the country:

Harare

Fifteen people, including ZCTU secretary-general, Wellington Chibebe, who were arrested during the ZCTU demonstration in Harare have been released without any charge.

The ZCTU leadership are set to meet the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono tomorrow at 0900hrs to discuss the issue of cash withdrawal limit.

Kariba

Five people who were arrested in kariba are still in police custody.

Karoi

Three of the four people arrested in Karoi have been released and asked to return to the police station tomorrow. One person, Cherechedzai Rubiwa is still in custody.

Gweru

35 people arrested in Gweru are still in custody after the police refused to release them. The police said they will deal with the matter tomorrow.

Bulawayo

Seven people arrested in Bulawayo are still in police custody with lawyers frantically working to have then released.

Zvishavane

Six demonstrators are still being held at a local police station. The lawyer is still negotiating with the police.

Below are the names of those arrested:

ZIMBABWECONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS

Names of Activists and ZCTULeadership arrested on 3 December 2008 during the cash crisis demonstration

Total arrested around the country 69

Harare(15) (All male) Bulawayo(7) (all male)

Wellington Chibebe Denick Tafamba

Canwell Muchadya Stanley Dube

Henry Tarumbira Nhemachena Kenneth

Joseph Chuma Titus Marambire

Nicholas Mazarura Raphael

G. Shoko Kingstone Musviniwa

Mr. Chimhuka

Ben Madzimure Inoch Paradza (Taken By C.I.O)

Fungai Kanyongo

Raymond Majongwe

James Gumbi

Madziva

Tonderai Nyahunzvi

Phillip Gavaza

Kariba (5)

Wilberforce

Shungu Matesanwa

Jacob Magombedze

(Two Other Names Not Confirmed)

Karoi (4) (2 Male And 2 Female)

Cherechedzai Rabiwa

Ms. Tendai Chesa

Ms. Mlemba

Mr. Mufiri

(3 Asked To Report Back To Station Tomorrow. Rabiwa Still in Custody)

Gweru (32) (2 Women And 30 Male)

Isaac Teveteve

Charles Chikozho

Simon Hamadziripi

Martin Tazvivinga

Tendai Siziba

Tombiezani Mabunda

Moses Gwaunza

Bobiani Bhebhe

Zachariah Chikwenya

Ngoni Nyanhete

Kufa Claudio Usheunesu

Webster Murwisi

Clifford Mapwata

Farai Nhere

Moses Mhaka

Geshen Sibanda

Runyararo Rwatimba

Denzel Mushayi

Francis Chindume

Tariro Julius

Harris Magusha

Musapindira Kuzondidini

Peter Takuva

Kennias Havadi

Nathan Madzokere

John Jakarasi

Jacob Manyanga

Simbarashe Lebo

James Sibanda

Noel Mano

Benard Sibanda

Wilbert Muringani

Zvishavane (6)

Elinas Gumbo

Ndodhana Sithole

Isaac Matsikidze

Sarudzai Chimwanda

David Moyo

Nicholas Zengeya

Names of those beaten by Police and injured during the demonstration

Total number (9)

Harare (7)

Mrs. Getrude Hambira

Mrs. Angeline Chitambo

Ms. Martha Kajama

Mrs. Tecla Masamba

Mrs. Dorothy Zulu

Miriam Katumba

Tonderai Nyahunzvi (taken for treatment after release from Police)

All Treated by Doctors For Human Rights. Conditions of each yet to be confirmed by the doctor.

Bulawayo (2)

A member of NUCI (name to be confirmed) sent to clinic

Gift Mushore RAU

Khumbulani Ndlovu

Information Officer

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions

P.O. Box 3549

Harare

e-mail: in...@zctu.co.zw

website: www.zctu.co.zw

263-11620231

3.3 Pan African Lifetime Achievement Award for ZV

Patrick Craven, 3 December 2008

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is proud to announce that its General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, is today, 3 December 2008, to be presented with the Pan African Lifetime Achievement Award by the TransAfrica Forum, at its Progressive Vision in Action benefit gala at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, Washington DC.

TransAfrica Forum is the oldest and largest African American human rights and social justice advocacy organization promoting diversity and equity in the foreign policy arena and justice for the African World. Its Chairman, Hollywood legend Danny Glover, has written to the General Secretary that:

“It is our deep honour to be able to recognize your commitment to the African Diaspora over the years. The Pan-African Lifetime Achievement Award is presented as a tribute to those whose lifetime of personal, political and professional activities follows the tradition of promoting the vision, ideas and actions of Pan-African solidarity. TransAfrica will also recognize Stevie Wonder and Chuck D for their voluntary actions for the common good.”

The Forum’s work is summarised by the words from a section of the declaration of the 5th Pan-African Congress (1945), which reads in part: “We believe the success of Afro-Americans is bound up with the emancipation of all African peoples and also other dependent peoples and labouring classes everywhere.”

The TransAfrica Forum envisions a world where Africans and people of African descent are self-reliant, socially and economically prosperous, and equal participants in a just international system structured to benefit their self-determined governments and peoples.

This exceptional honour, from such a prestigious institution, reflects the enormous respect in which COSATU and its leaders are held around the world, for the work we have done to promote the cause of democracy and national liberation, not only here in South Africa but internationally. Our campaigns of solidarity action in support of the peoples of Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Palestine, Burma and many other countries have helped to keep alive the tradition of working-class internationalism.

The General Secretary is a worthy recipient of this award for his leadership of these and many other campaigns to transform the lives of workers and all the people of Africa and the poor and exploited people of the world. When he steps up to receive the award in Washington in December, it will be a proud moment for South Africa, COSATU and the international labour movement.

Patrick Craven, COSATU Spokesperson, 082 821 7456, 011 339 4911, pat...@cosatu.org.za

3.4 ZV to TransAfrica

Zwelinzima Vavi, 3 December 2008

Speech by Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, on the occasion of his receipt of the TransAfrican Forum’s Pan-African Lifetime Achievement Award, Washington, 3 December 2008

Master of ceremonies

Chairperson of the Board of Directors for TransAfrican Forum, Danny Glover

Board of Directors here present

Event Co chairs

Distinguished guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is an unbelievable honour to be chosen to receive such a prestigious award tonight and to stand here on the same platform as so many distinguished leaders of the African-American community. I accept it with honour and humility.

I know however that it is not me as an individual who has earned this honour, but millions of South African working people, united under the banner of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, and its allies, the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party. Together, this alliance led, and indeed continues to lead, our national democratic revolution against apartheid, colonialism, racism and exploitation.

We shall forever be indebted to the magnificent campaign of international solidarity against apartheid. I take this opportunity to thank all those heroic Americans who stood alongside us in our hour of need and helped to impose sanctions and diplomatic pressure on the racist regime. One legacy of this international solidarity is that COSATU itself, from its birth on 1 December 1985, 23 years ago this week, has enshrined international solidarity as one of its founding principles.

Today, after only 23 short years, COSATU has become one of the most respected unions in the globe - a strong voice and ally of all democrats. COSATU is a fearless fighter against injustices within South Africa, across the African continent and all over the world. We have become a trusted ally of all those who have spared no energy to pursue the dream that another world is possible. We have sought to speak for the most marginalised. We have campaigned against the current patterns of globalisation that have led to growing inequalities within and between countries, in particular between the countries of the global South and North.

I am extremely great full that the TransAfrica Forum has recognised our contribution to struggle to build a just world where all citizens shall share in the wealth and where no one will be discriminated on the basis of her or his skin colour or her or his origin.

On 27 April 1994 we achieved an historic victory for democracy, when for the first time, every South African voted for the government of their choice. In many ways, our struggles did not come to an end in1994. While we have won important victories on the political front, the trade union movement in particular still faces many battles, especially on the economic front. Economic power has virtually remained unchanged as it is under control of a white minority. Political and economic power has diverged in South Africa with dire consequences for the poor African majority.

Inequality between rich and poor, which cleaves largely along racial and gender lines, has increased in post apartheid South Africa. While absolute poverty has been reduced, many South Africans remain poor. That is why we still need a strong, militant trade union federation like COSATU.

The situation was made even worse by the mistaken adoption, in the late 1990s, of economic policies that were inspired by the so-called ‘Washington Consensus.’ A well-known South African economist argues that the chains were removed from our hands and put on our feet!

They were accompanied by concerted moves at the international level to impose trade policies that, if adopted, would be catastrophic for all developing countries like South Africa. The rich Northern nations wanted to retain all the government subsidies and tariffs that protect their wealthy farmers and businesses while demanding that the poor Southern countries abandon their protective tariffs and open their markets up to the so-called market - reality to the big monopolies. The cost would be borne by our local manufacturing industry and agriculture.

The Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Pascal Lamy, is still trying to push these measures through before the end of the year, using the global economic crisis as an excuse.

The proposed trade deal will compound crises of poverty in South Africa. If such problems hit a relatively prosperous country like South Africa, then we can be certain that other, poorer African countries will be hit even harder. Many are already facing massive problems. In line with its founding internationalist principles, COSATU has taken up the struggles of our fellow workers in Africa and many other parts of the world.

A single fact points to the continued differences between the global North and the global South. According to the World Bank’s data on the Millennium Development Goals, in the high-income countries, with 15% of the world’s population, one child in seven shows signs of malnutrition. In the low-income countries, which account for 39% of the global population and which include almost all of sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa, more than one child in four is malnourished.

With stark figures like these, we hardly need to go further to understand why COSATU sees inequality across the world, and not just in South Africa, as a pressing challenge for us all.

Figures on poverty show similarly shocking differences. In Europe, 2% of the population lives on less than a dollar a day – a shocking figure for industrialised countries. In Africa, however, the figure is 44%. That is, close to half of all Africans live below the lowest international poverty line.

The poverty of the global South has too main roots: the unfair nature of globalisation and, in most cases, the unfair nature of economic and social systems within these countries themselves. Again, the high-income countries, with just a seventh of the world’s people, enjoy three quarters of its income and generate almost half of all global-warming emissions. The poor countries, with two fifths of the global population, get just 3% - three per cent! – of the global income, and generate only 7% of all carbon emissions.

COSATU’s solidarity has been particularly necessary where workers and the majority of the people suffer not only economically but politically as well. That is why we have singled out certain countries where workers are under attack.

One is Zimbabwe, where Robert Mugabe, formerly a great national liberation leader and hero, has turned into a dictator. He rules on behalf of a small elite that has sought to crush the human rights of the majority and has made the workers, organised in the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, a prime target. He has clung on to power even after losing the election on 29 March 2008, despite a ruthless campaign of violent intimidation before and during the voting. Even now he is refusing even to share power with the MDC opposition, which won that election.

This week Mugabe police arrested scores of unionists, including the General Secretary of the ZCTU Wellington Chibebe, for merely protesting against the restrictions to the amounts workers could withdraw from the banks. I hope you will join us in demanding their immediate release.

Swaziland is an even less democratic state. It is one of the world’s few remaining absolute monarchies, where political parties are banned and there has been the world’s longest state of emergency, since 1973. Currently scores of the pro democracy activists including the President of the main opposition formation, Mario Masuku, are under arrest on trumped-up charges of ‘terrorism’.

Western Sahara is the only remaining colony in Africa, since it was illegally occupied by Morocco 32 years ago, and where they remain, in defiance of United Nations resolutions. Morocco has forced a large proportion of the population to flee into exile, where they live in refugee camps in Algeria.

More recently there has been a huge humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where civilians, including many women and children, have been caught in the crossfire of a senseless civil war, in which hundreds have been raped and killed.

On all these counties, COSATU has not just passed resolutions and issued press statements, but has mobilised its members in solidarity action.

Further afield COSATU has been very vocal in support of the people of Palestine, who suffer a cruel form of national oppression by the Israel state, which has a great deal in common with the apartheid system under which we suffered for so long. The people are denied all their most basic democratic rights, including even where they can live, having been thrown off their ancestral land and forced to live in the equivalent of apartheid ‘Bantustans’.

We have also condemned the ruthless military regime in Burma which for decades has trampled on the people’s human rights, jailed opposition politicians and used forced labour.

Also - and this may be more controversial here in Washington - COSATU has steadfastly supported the people of Cuba, who played a crucial role in our own liberation, when they defeated the forces of apartheid at the battle of Cuito Carnavale in Angola in 1988. We have supported the call for an end to the 46-year-old illegal economic blockade by the USA.

This is a very brief summary of the contribution that the organisation I have been privileged to lead has made to the struggle for liberation, in South Africa, the continent and the world as a whole. Tonight’s award, I believe, should be seen as being given to COSATU’s two million members and the majority of South Africans, on whose behalf I am honoured to speak in Washington tonight.

The financial meltdown was a rude reminder of the fallacy of liberalising financial markets. It is a serious indictment that governments have been forced to bail out financial institutions, thus socialising the debts while the profits remain in private hands. It also shows the duplicity of the neo-liberal dogma that attacks state social welfare policies as generating dependency but welcomes and encourages bail outs to corporations. Neo-liberalism is indeed a policy of enriching the rich by impoverishing the poor further.

Globalisation means that our fate is more intertwined than ever before. Workers in the South and the North face the same problems: job losses, cuts in social welfare programmes and privatisation of public assets. This situation demands that we abandon insular nationalistic politics for global solidarity to defeat the neo-liberalism promoted and imposed by the US and international financial institutions.

My speech will be incomplete if I do not congratulate Americans on their new President, Barack Obama, the first African American President of the US. This is an important milestone for US politics and in particular for the African American community. We wish him well and hope for sea change in US foreign and economic policy. We hope for a more inclusive approach to addressing world problems from the unilateralism and jingoism of the Bush regime. We also hope that the US will now understand the folly of liberalised capital markets and desist from imposing neo-liberal dogma on developing countries.

Thank you very much.

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