do about it. I also felt exposed and vulnerable because the apparatus that I believed should have been protecting my basic rights was being used to assault them. 261. Most officials and individuals whom the Commission met, including government officials, the employers’ organization, both trade union formations and civil society organizations, explained that the ZCTU was perceived to be linked to the MDC political party. 142 This perception caused a belief among the authorities that the union’s actions were political in nature and not true trade union activities. ZCTU members asserted that, although the ZCTU facilitated the formation of the MDC in 1999 and many of its members were members or supporters of the MDC, ZCTU actions always had a true trade union motivation. The ZCTU had declared that it “shall jealously maintain its identity, autonomy and independent class position in as far as it relates to affiliation to party politics”, stressing that its members, officials and staff have the right to participate on an individual basis in party politics of their choice, but “shall not attempt to bring into the ZCTU their political party’s influence, orientation, policies, disciplines and priorities, etc.”. 143 262. Trade union officials and members often contended that the police was controlled from outside the police force and that they felt unsafe on account of the perception that the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) 144 was “everywhere”. 145 It was explained to the Commission that the CIO was a non-uniformed intelligence force with branches throughout the country and operatives believed to be in many, if not all, workplaces, organizations and meeting places. A number of trade union members asserted to the Commission that the CIO and police acted together in the context of links between the ZANU–PF political party, the Government and its officials, the police and the CIO. Trade unionists believed that the police was pervasive and that the CIO was even more powerful. It was claimed many times that, as the CIO reported directly to the President of Zimbabwe, who was also the leader of the ZANU–PF political party, trade unionists had the impression that violence, harassment and discrimination against them had been sanctioned by the highest powers in the country. 146 For that reason, there was nowhere for them to turn to have the breaches of their rights remedied. 147 Members of the public service Apex Council stated that the intelligence services, the police and army were politicized and that they felt that there was “no one to protect you”. 148 263. On occasion, armed police and the army fired upon and killed demonstrators. 264. It was further explained that the concerted campaign against the ZCTU and its affiliates was also being waged in the media. Media reports often described the ZCTU as a political force 142 See further Chapter 8 (Trade unionism in Zimbabwe: Historical and socio-economic context). 143 ZCTU, 2000, The “workers-driven” and “peoples-centred” development process for Zimbabwe (Report for Advocacy Programme Beyond ESAP Phase I); meeting with the ZCTU, 14 Aug. 2009, Harare; ZCTU constitution (revised edition 2009). 144 The Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) is a governmental organization under the authority of the Minister of State for National Security. 74 145 Meetings with the ZCTU, Aug. 2009. 146 Meeting with the ZCTU, Aug. 2009. 147 See Chapter 14 (Intimidation and harassment), in which the link is discussed further. 148 Meeting with the Apex Council, Aug. 2009, Harare. Meetings-2009-Zimbabwe C of I-2009-12-0035-3-En.doc/v3