“We commemorate this day because our colleagues were brutalized simply for demanding their rights. As a labour body we are not covered under Public Order and Security Act (POSA) regulations, so there was no reason for the police to stop our march,” said Vice Secretary of the ZCTU Women’s Advisory Council, Mrs. Barbara Tanyanyiwa.

Barbara went on to say that, “As a result of the beatings, labour activist, Moses Ngondo was permanently injured. He now walks with the aid of crutches. Out going ZCTU Secretary General, Wellington Chibebe and current ZCTU Third Vice President Lucia Matibenga sustained fractured arms”.

The brutality attracted worldwide attention. Asked to comment on the beatings of ZCTU activists at the time, President Robert Mugabe said, “Mapurisa anodashura (Police will beat you up)”. Mugabe issued this statement while on a state visit to Cuba.

“Oh I remember that statement very well,” said Lucia Matibenga, “It all goes to show that Mugabe spoke the truth when he said he has degrees in violence.”

ZCTU Western Region Chairman, Mr. Reason Ngwenya recounted how they were bundled into a motor car allegedly by operatives from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and driven taken some 40 kilometres outside Bulawayo, to a place after Pumula.

“Our cellular phones were taken away together with other belongings and never returned to this day. But thank God we are alive because those guys can kill”.

However, for the ZCTU incidents that happened on September 13 are not isolated events. On March 8, 2011 police beat up and forced a score of women to strip their tops. The police did not want any of the women wearing anything carrying ZCTU insignia. Several were arrested for turning up to participate in a march, which had been allowed by the High Court.

Speaking to delegates at the commemoration, Reason Ngwenya said, “2011 is the last year in which we will find ourselves celebrating this great day inside the hall. We are going to demonstrate in the road”.

When asked why the ZCTU was not going to listen to the police and POSA Ngwenya said, “We will not be given laws by lawless people”.

In reply to the beatings, the ZCTU sued the Minister of Home Affairs and Commissioner of police. Today, five years after their case as not been heard in the court.

Other activists who were beaten and arrested include recently elected ZCTU President, George Nkiwane, the late Gertrude Mthombeni, Japhet Moyo, Lovemore Matombo, Rwatipedza Chigwagwa, Todini Todini and Nqobizitha Khumalo among others.