COSATU General Secretary deported from Zimbabwe

By Nadia Samie

COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, has been deported from Zimbabwe. Vavi was invited to Zimbabwe by the National Congress of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, to represent COSATU. He was, however, barred by the Zimbabwean government from the congress, which is to take place from the 19th to the 22nd of May, along with representatives from Norway, Zambia and Swaziland. COSATU spokesperson, Patrick Craven, says that Vavi was on a flight scheduled to land back in South Africa this afternoon.
Craven says that the ZCTU is applying for an urgent court interdict to reverse the deportation. If this is successful, Craven says, Vavi will return on the next available flight, or, if necessary travel by road.