Zimbabwe: Woza women arrested

Press Statement - Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) 21
June 2005

TWENTY NINE Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) members
were arrested in
Bulawayo on Saturday during a peaceful procession
against Operation
Murambatsvina in the run up to World Refugee Day 20
June. Twenty eight were arrested on site with one
handing herself in, in solidarity. The women spent 48
hours in custody and appeared in court on Monday
charged with Miscellaneous Offices Chapter 3,
"Blocking Traffic". They were granted free bail and
will go on trial on 11 July 2005 in Provincial
Magistrates Court Bulawayo. The majority of these
women are vendors and many had lost homes in the last
week to Operation Murambatsvina.

At 11 am on Saturday, over one hundred women gathered
placards and
Banners held high to begin a peaceful protest. This
starting group had gone three city blocks when a
police detail stationed near TM Hypermarket set came
at the run. They were attracted by the women who were
singing an Ndebele song, "The sun has set and where I
sleep tonight. I will sleep like a bird on a branch
of a tree".

As is the WOZA way, the women sat down immediately
upon seeing the
Police officers, leaving them at a loss. After the
women were seat the officer barked, "Sit down, sit
down" To which they replied that they were already
seated. A crowd of bystanders numbering up to 300
gathered around and bravely picked up the Woza Moya
(Come Holy Spirit) Newsletters being distributed by
the women. Many bystanders clapped their hands in
appreciation for the work done by the peaceful women.

All that remained was for the officers to call for
vehicles to transfer
The arrested to Bulawayo Central station in fife
street. Meanwhile it later came to light that police
officers armed with AK 47 Rifles were awaiting the
protesters at previous demonstration starting and
ending positions.

During detention, one member Siphiwe Maseko was
randomly selected on
Orders of "Dispol" to be tortured. She endured beating
with a whip like baton on her back and under the feet
by plain clothes officers in the 'PISI' office. The
officers tried to force her to divulge names of
leaders and WOZA's funding partners. She withstood
this brutality, spent two days in custody and is on
the mend.

Two members, Magodonga Mahlangu and Jenni Williams who
had handed
Herself in, were subjected to individual harassment by
the Law and Order officer in charge Inspector G.
Ndlovu and another senior officer, Inspector Moyo.
Williams had her home illegally searched by law and
order officers.

All of the women were photographed and finger printed.
Those that were
vendors were told that they would not succeed in
renewing their vending
licences.

The women, including six grandmothers, spent the time
in custody
cramped in a small filthy cell which could accommodate
eight at a push. No food is available and food had to
be bought in. Only two filthy blankets were available,
and most of the women have come down with colds as it
is mid winter. In the words of Gogo Mutendesi, "It was
better to be in the cells than out in the open like
many Zimbabweans."

The peaceful women, whose slogan is the 'LOVE' sign,
could face many
Years imprisonment if convicted under the notorious
Public Order Security Act (POSA). This is the third
trial the women of WOZA will face, they won the last
two. WOZA have called on Zimbabweans, and sympathisers
abroad to assist in donating funds towards the 11
July 2005 trail. "Please help defend your mothers as
we have helped defend our children. The liberations
guns have indeed been turned against us."

Ends
21 June 2005
For more information, please contact
Jenni Williams +263 91 300 456, Magodonga Mahlangu
+263 91 362 668
Email: [email protected]