zimfinalpush
SAfrica unions vow to keep up pressure on Zimbabwe
CAPE TOWN, March 31 (Reuters) - South Africa's largest labour federation will keep up pressure on Zimbabwe, its general secretary said on Saturday, ahead of next week's protest over the deteriorating political and economic situation there.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), a member of the ruling tripartite alliance with the African National Congress (ANC), has lambasted Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe for "attacks on democracy and human rights".
COSATU's position sharply contrasts with the quiet diplomacy advocated by ANC leader Thabo Mbeki, South Africa's President, who was named last week by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to promote dialogue between Mugabe and Zimbabwe's opposition.
Mbeki said on Saturday he was confident new mediation could help resolve that country's political crisis, but COSATU's Zwelinzima Vavi said COSATU would maintain pressure on Harare.
"We are proceeding with the protests. We are not going to let go because there is a promise of dialogue," Vavi said on Saturday after organised labour met with Mbeki in Cape Town.
"We're having demonstrations on Tuesday and Wednesday, we're having marches in Johannesburg and we'll be marching to the Zimbabwean High commissioner's office."
Tensions have risen sharply in Zimbabwe in the last two weeks after police arrested and beat Morgan Tsvangirai and other activists in a move that spurred widespread international condemnation.
Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate, at over 1,700 percent, is the highest in the world outside a war zone and unemployment currently stands at 80 percent. Critics blame President Mugabe's policies.
Vavi said COSATU's responsibility was to make sure the unions exerted pressure to force the parties involved to engage in serious negotiations for a solution to the crisis.
Asked what the union's wanted to see Mbeki achieve, Vavi told Reuters: "We hope the arms will be twisted for people to engage seriously, the arm of president Mugabe in particular."
He said COSATU was hopeful of a break-through.
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