Zwelinzima Vavi, general-secretary of Cosatu, South Africa’s powerful trade union federation sets out his vision for Africa’s dominant economy. He also addresses allegations that top politicians are undermining the judiciary and offers insights into the thinking of his close ally, Jacob Zuma, leader of the ruling African National Congress. He spoke to Tom Burgis on August 22 at Cosatu’s headquarters in Johannesburg. Below is an edited transcript

Financial Times: Last week you were talking about the boycott [by regional unions of all goods bound for Zimbabwe and Swaziland to put pressure on the autocratic regimes of President Robert Mugabe and King Msvati III, respectively]. Does that look like it’s going to go ahead?