RIOT POLICE . . . shot and injured four mine workers demonstarting over unpaid salaries (file picture)

HARARE – Zimbabwe police on Friday opened fire on hundreds of striking workers in the southwestern mining town of Zvishavane, injuring four workers including a councillor from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party, labour leaders said.

“Four people, one woman and three men, were shot and injured by the police this morning while demonstrating at the Shabanie Mine gate,” Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) information officer Khumbulani Ndlovu told ZimOnline.

“A number of workers were also arrested. The police arrested each one of them as they went to see the injured at Zvishavane General Hospital,” Ndlovu said.

Police also arrested Tichaona Chivasa, a human rights lawyer representing the workers who were protesting against failure by the company to pay their salaries.

Alois Zhou, Taurai Zhou and Simbarashe Mashuku were shot and injured in the morning as the police raided the workers and opened fire. Alois Zhou is also the chairman of Zvishavane Town Council and a councilor of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party.

The female worker’s name and the condition of the injured could not be immediately established.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena would not immediately comment on the matter saying he needed time to verify information.

A member of the Shabanie Mine Workers Union, speaking on condition that his name was not published, told ZimOnline last week that the company owed him more than US$3 500, adding that it was not clear why a government appointed administrator Arafas Gwaradzimba had failed to pay workers’ salaries when the mines were productive.

He said tempers were flaring at one of southern Africa’s largest asbestos mines employing in excess of 3 000 people.

Tsvangirai’s MDC faction in a statement condemned the incident saying the police action was clear abuse of human rights.

“The action by the police is a clear abuse of human rights and the MDC would like to denounce the action taken by the police,” said the former opposition party which formed a power-sharing government with President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF party in February to end a political crisis following an inconclusive presidential poll.

“We call upon the co-Ministers of Home Affairs, Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi to make urgent investigations into the conduct of the trigger-happy policemen. (The) shooting incident in Zvishavane is unacceptable in the context of the inclusive government where the culture and deportment of national security institutions have to reflect a new culture of respecting human rights and people’s freedoms,” said the MDC.