wages could not be discussed atsectoral level because
they were a national issue.

He said even
if some employers were to comply with the salariesproposed by the
government, "the ZCTU would push for a minimum wage of $125000 per month
because this is the realistic figure".

Workers have been hit hard by Zimbabwe's worsening economic crisis,under
which rampant inflation has forced up the cost of living beyond thereach of
most people.

THE government of Zimbabwe has yet
again contrived to make aninternational spectacle of itself with its
ill-advised and unlawfuldeportation of Guardian journalist Andrew
Meldrum.

The veteran journalist was last
week declared a prohibited immigrant,allegedly for "writing bad stories
about Zimbabwe", and bundled out ofHarare on Friday
night.

This was despite a High Court
ruling last July declaring him a bonafide resident of Zimbabwe, and an order
issued by the court on Fridaybarring his deportation and orderinghave to live infear of persecution for holding different
views or exercising their right tobelong to the party of their
choice.

The government should clearly be
concerning itself with getting togrips with the economic meltdown that is
causing so much suffering to itspeople and cleaning up an image that has
been tarnished in the eyes of thecivilised
world.

It cannot do this by inviting
international criticism and ridicule forflouting court rulings and trampling
on the basic rights of Zimbabweans.

Meldrum's deportation has already drawn fire from the
internationalcommunity, with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw calling it
"petty andvindictive", and a United States state department official
pointing out thatit "reflects ongoing erosion of basic rights and the rule
of law".

Foreign investors and
international multilateral agencies that havealready washed their hands of
Zimbabwe will also not look kindly on thislatest demonstration of the
government's utter contempt for the