Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwean police released the head of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Lovemore Matombo, and four other union officials arrested in Victoria Falls on Nov. 8, union Secretary-General Wellington Chibhebhe said by phone from Harare today.

“The police have embarrassed themselves through their actions because the ZCTU by law doesn’t have to apply for permission to hold meetings,” Chibhebhe said.

“It is heartbreaking and terrible that innocent people spent four nights in filthy police cells and were only freed when the courts intervened,” he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Latham in Durban at blatham@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 13, 2009 05:58 EST