SW Radio Africa (London)
Alex Bell
2 December 2008
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says it will go ahead with its planned strike action on Wednesday, despite the central bank's announcement that cash withdrawal limits will increase once again.
The labour grouping announced last week it would lead a mass demonstration against the Reserve Bank's capping of daily withdrawal limits, by leading the public to their banks on Wednesday to demand all their money. A procession is then expected to be made to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe where the ZCTU leadership will deliver a petition to the central bank governor, Gideon Gono.
Gono announced that as of Thursday, a day after the ZCTU planned action, the withdrawal limit of Z$500 000 will increase to Z$100 million per week, but the ZCTU has argued its action will not be deferred, saying it wants the central bank to remove the limit in daily cash withdrawals completely.
The ZCTU's Secretary General, Wellington Chibhebhe told Newsreel on Tuesday that Gono "has been in the habit of preempting out strike action by continuously raising the limits."
"We have deferred our action on those occasions hoping things were going to improve," Chibhebhe argued. "It is now evident people's problems will not be solved by these meaningless adjustments."
Chibhebhe also argued that a weekly rate of Z$100 million was not enough to cover the costs of food and medicine. Chibhebhe expressed anger that thousands of people are dying despite having money in the bank to pay for treatment and food, and explained that the public should not feel afraid "demanding what is theirs."
"We are advising all Zimbabweans to join the strike because the cash crisis
does not know any occupation or race and is affecting everyone on a very serious level," he said.
Meanwhile, the planned peaceful action by pressure group, the National Constitutional Assembly that was set to go ahead on Tuesday, will instead take place on Thursday. Group officials announced the postponement earlier this week, saying its members would join the ZCTU protest on Wednesday.
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