By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) on Monday said that protests are ongoing despite threats by the government.

ZCTU president, Peter Mutasa said that there is no kind of threat that would deter them from protesting against the ban on the multicurrency system by president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.

This came after the government, through Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019, banned the use of all foreign currencies for domestic transactions.

Last week, ZCTU leaders gave Mnangagwa’s government up to tomorrow to reverse the SI saying their members would take to the streets if the powers-that-be do not capitulate.

Speaking to the Daily News, a defiant ZCTU president Peter Mutasa said:

Trade union leaders are not safe currently considering the arrests and reported abductions. I don’t feel secure also but what can I do? Our lives are in the hands of the Lord, He decides whether I live or not.

Zimbabwe is the only country we have and we are carrying out a legitimate function that is provided for at law. Strikes are also guaranteed in the Constitution.

The ZCTU boss bemoaned the deterioration in living standards of citizens as a result of the soaring inflation. He added that any responsible government would not brutalise citizens for raising genuine concerns.

ZANU PF political commissar, Victor Matemadanda, responded to Mutasa’s remarks and said that security personnel will be ready to deal with any violent protest. He said that everyone had a right to demonstrate peacefully.