Man arrested at Cosatu protest in Musina

South African police arrested a Zimbabwean man at the Beit Bridge in Musina during a Congress of South African Trade unions (Cosatu) march against the economic meltdown and political violence in Zimbabwe. The man was blocking the route in order to prevent trucks from entering Zimbabwe when he was confronted by police officers.

The man and a couple of other protesters who claim to be members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) argued that shutting down Zimbabwean borders will make neighbouring countries that transport commodities through Zimbabwe act against the government of Robert Mugabe.

Cosatu says the protest is part of its on-going campaign of restoring democracy in Zimbabwe. The union emphasised that it was not supporting the MDC but showing solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.

Protesters slammed the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union. They said the SADC mediation, led by President Thabo Mbeki was nothing more than rhetoric.