By Obioma C. Appolos
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has condemned the arrest and repatriation to the airport preparatory for possible deportation of ITUC-Africa, Secretary General, Mr Kwasi Adu Amankwa, by the Zimbabwean authorities in Harare.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary, NLC, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, yesterday, the labour union called for the immediate release of Mr Amankwa, describing the recent action by the Zimbabwe authorities as “a disturbing trend against freedom of movement.”
It noted that the secretary general was in the country for an international solidarity meeting with the Zimbabwean Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
The statement reads in part: “It is bad enough that the ZCTU members lately were victims of government’s high-handedness through arbitrary arrests, detentions and other acts of intimidation, all of which drew international condemnation.
“Government in spite of the global outrage against its ill-advised behavior, could arrest Mr Amankwa , a diplomat in his own right and without any stated offence, signifies how far it is prepared to go on its mission of repression.
“We once again advise the Zimbabwe government to retrace its steps and hold meaningful dialogue with the members of its trade unions for industrial harmony and development of the country.”
The Union however demanded that he be given free and unfettered access to members of ZCTU, officials of the Ministry of Labour, Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe and other organisations with which he was scheduled to meet. Adding that his arrest represents the height of intolerance and repression.
