involved with the imposition of international sanctions against the country. 149 The Commission was provided with reports from the state-run print and television media that persistently attacked the ZCTU and its leaders. 150 Certain trade unionists claimed that the intimidation against them had included threats that false reports would be written about them in the local or national media. 151 265. Allegations relating to the systematic violation of freedom of association fell into a number of categories. The extent of the interaction between these aspects resulted in a perception by the complainants of a systematic lack of protection of their rights. The first group of allegations concerned allegedly routine infringements of the right to strike and demonstrate. 152 The second group concerned the widespread arrests, detentions, assaults and torture of trade union officials and members. 153 The third group of allegations concerned the intimidation and harassment of trade unions and their members and, in particular, of teachers, farm workers and the business community. 154 The fourth group concerned an alleged pattern of interference in trade union affairs and anti-union discrimination. 155 The fifth group concerned lapses in collective bargaining and social dialogue, 156 and the sixth group concerned a failure in the institutional protection of trade union rights. 157 In addition, the Commission heard statements concerning attempts at a healing and reconciliation process in Zimbabwe. 158 266. Each of these sets of issues is addressed in the ten following chapters. As it was alleged that arrests, detentions and violence related to demonstrations and other trade union events amounted to intimidation, harassment and torture of trade unionists and interference with trade union activities, they are discussed in more than one chapter. 149 E.g. “ZCTU: West’s useful idiots”, The Herald, 30 Sep. 2008 (p. 6); “Imperialists resort to new tactics”, The Herald, 27 Feb. 2005 (p. 9 alleging United States support for the ZCTU). 150 E.g. “Workers, please reclaim ZCTU”, The Herald, 1 May 2007 (p. 7: “the marauders masquerading as workers’ representatives in the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions”); “ZCTU has lost the plot”, The Herald, 8 May 2007 (p. 9). 151 Meeting with the ZCTU, 22 Aug. 2009, Mutare. 152 See Chapter 12 (Freedom of demonstration and assembly and the right to strike). 153 See Chapter 13 (Arrests, detentions, assaults and torture). 154 See Chapters 14 (Intimidation and harassment), 15 (Intimidation and harassment of teachers), 16 (Intimidation and harassment of farm workers) and 17 (The experience of the business community). 155 See Chapter 18 (Interference in trade union affairs and anti-union discrimination). 156 See Chapter 19 (Collective bargaining and social dialogue). 157 See Chapter 20 (Institutional protection of trade union rights). 158 See Chapter 21 (The current situation: National healing and reconciliation). Meetings-2009-Zimbabwe C of I-2009-12-0035-3-En.doc/v3 75