The High Court has granted the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) an order allowing May Day marches to go ahead in all the 38 centres where Workers' Day is being commemorated.

Police had outlawed marches in and around the country to mark the Workers Day on 1 May, allegedly in fear of the eruption of Egyptian or
Tunisian style protests which have been dubbed the “Arabic Awakening.”

But Khumbulani Ndlovu, the spokesperson for the labour movement said the Harare High Court had issued an order on Friday authorizing the staging of marches in 38 centres.

“The order was granted on Friday afternoon and police have been ordered not to interfere with the May Day marches on May 1 2011,” she said, adding that the police had banned marches even in major cities of Harare and Mutare.But it remains to be seen if the police, whom critics accused of being partisan towards President Robert Mugabe and Zanu (PF) will comply with the High Court order.

By Staff reporter and agencies