The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says it is disturbed by comments attributed to Home Affairs Minister Cain Mathema that any future anti-government demonstrations would be crashed.
The minster is quoted in the government controlled The Herald newspaper of 7 November saying that Government has put in place security measures to deal with malcontents planning to disturb the peace prevailing in the country through illegal demonstrations.
The ZCTU said the Minister is offside in that Zimbabweans have an inalienable right to demonstrate as enshrined in the Zimbabwe Constitution.
“In essence what the Minister did was to throw the constitution out of the window. The threat to unleash the security forces on demonstrating citizens is barbaric and has no place in modern Zimbabwe.
“We unreservedly condemn the Minister’s threats as it takes Zimbabwe back to the dark years of former President Robert Mugabe. We demand that the Minister withdraws his reckless statement and make a public apology,” ZCTU said in a statement Friday.