By Patricia Mpofu 

HARARE – Three members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) were on Monday severely assaulted and later abducted by suspected state security agents for distributing fliers urging workers to join a labour organised two-day protest that begins tomorrow. 

ZCTU spokesperson Khumbulani Ndlovu said the three union officials were severely beaten and later taken to an unknown destination by people suspected to be Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives. 

“Three officials from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions have been abducted after being heavily beaten up by suspected CIO operatives in Harare's Workington industrial areas,” said Ndlovu. 

The ZCTU spokesperson identified the three as Michael Kandukutu, the labour federation’s national organiser, Tennyson Muchepfa, from the National Engineering Workers Union, and another member only identified as Mucheni, from the Food Federation, both affiliates of the ZCTU. 

“The ZCTU is working flat out to locate where they have been taken and ZCTU lawyers have been informed (about this development,)” Ndlovu said. 

The assault and abduction came just two days before the labour federation embarked on a two-day mass protest to force President Robert Mugabe’s government to address an eight-year economic crisis that has seen most workers struggle to put food on the table. 

Ndlovu said the abduction would not dissuade the union from forging ahead with the planned job protest. 

“The strike is still going ahead on Wednesday and Thursday,” she said. 

Police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka said he was not aware of the matter when contacted for comment last night. 

“I will look into the issue and then get back to you,” said Mandipaka. 

Human rights groups and the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change party have in the past accused CIO agents of beating up and abducting Mugabe’s political opponents. 

Several ZCTU leaders including the union’s secretary general Wellington Chibebe were last September severely assaulted after they attempted to lead street protests in Harare over the worsening economic crisis in Zimbabwe. 

The Zimbabwean government defended the crackdown, accusing the ZCTU officials of working with Western powers to effect illegal regime change in the troubled southern African country. - ZimOnline