What is the situation like for ordinary people in Zimbabwe today? Inflation is 2,000,000% and the average wage will only pay for 5 loaves a bread a month. The government is attacking, beating and killing members of the opposition. But despite this desperate situation, the people of Zimbabwe are carrying on an inspiring struggle to end the regime of Robert Mugabe.
Many Zimbabwean refugees in Britain, particularly women, have recently been forced to return by destitution. Many who escape from Zimbabwe to Malawi or South Africa are in constant danger of being returned.
Tuesday 15 July 2008, at 7pm
STUC, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow G3 6NG
Near Kelvinbridge underground
Our speaker from Zimbabwe is Mike Sozinyu, a socialist who has been at the forefront of these struggles. He is active in supporting workers building trade unions independent of the government and part of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, such as the Medical and Allied Workers Union, the Graphical Workers Union, the Engineering Workers and the Electrical Workers Union. Mike is a leading member of the Zimbabwe Social Forum, which brings together all of Zimbabwe’s social movements each year to coordinate their activities. He also works closely with Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and the Harare Residents Association. He is a supporter of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and has been arrested by the regime 3 times.
Agnes Tolmie is a member of the Women’s Committee of the Scottish Trades Unions’ Congress. Agnes has visited and worked with South Africans, recently been involved with Zimbabwe women who visited Britain and has taken an active interest in the refugee situation in Scotland.
Linet Sihle Ncube is a refugee from Zimbabwe who now lives in Glasgow. She has been involved in supporting other refugees, and is secretary of the African women’s group Karibu.
Other trade union speakers have been invited
Mobile phones and chargers are urgently needed by activists for communications inside Zimbabwe. Please bring your old ones to the meeting.
ALL WELCOME
Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees
glascamref@hotmail.com, 07870 286 632, C/o FBU, 52 St Enoch Sq, Glasgow G1
