REQUEST FOR REMAND

Station: HARARE CENTRAL Prosecutor’s Ref: .R: 1696/05/2008
Section: C.I.D LAW AND ORDER HARARE. DR 06/06/08 C.R.B. No: 3884-97/2008
Investigating Officer: 037428G D/ASS INSP. NYONI Prison No.
(Note: In the case of joint accused, all are to be included on same Request for Remand Form)

Section A
Accused: (full names, N.R/R.C., etc.) JENNIFFER WILLIAMS  Age: 46 yrs
(2) MAGODONGA MAHLANGU  Age:35 yrs
(3) TRACY LEIGH DOIG Age: 33 yrs

Arrested (date) 28th MAY 2008 Time: 1200hrs
ACCUSED 4 TO 14. SEE ANNEXTURE

Section B
Offence(s) – CONTRAVENING SECTION 37 (1) (c) (ii) OF THE CRIMINAL LAW (CODIFICATION AND REFORM) ACT CHAPTER 9:23 “participating in a gathering with intent to promote Public Violence, breaches of peace of bigotry”

Allegation(s) – On (date) 28TH MAY 2008 at (place) CORNER JULIUS NYERERE AND NKWAME NKHRUMA AVENUE, HARARE the accused (state what the accused did) ACTED IN COMMON PURPOSE AND PARITICIPATED IN AN UNLAWFUL GATHERING DRIVING VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBER AAQ 7338, A NISSAN PATROL AROUND THE CITY CENTRE HOLDING, DISPLAYING AND DISTRIBUTING BANNERS AND PLACARDS PLUS FLYERS WITH INSCRIPTIONS SUCH AS: “Robert Mugabe you have become known to us for violence”, From 2 April 2008 the Government organized a retribution campaign to target those who allegedly voted for the opposition”, “Over 40 people have been shot dead in cold blood”, “Women Directors of NGOs are on Government hit list”, etc. INFORMATION WHICH IS CALCULATED AT PROMOTING PUBLIC VIOLENCE, BREACHES OF PEACE OR BIGOTRY.

Evidence (state facts linking accused to the commission of crime/offence, e.g. accused was found in possession of stolen , radio, etc)
1. VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBER AAQ 7338, A NISSAN PATROL WHICH ACCUSED WERE USING WAS RECOVERED.
2. ACCUSED FOUND IN POSSESSION OF BANNERS, PLACARDS AND FLYERS

Value of property stolen/potential prejudice (Frauds, etc.) $……… Value of property recovered $…N/A

Bail – not opposed/opposed/on Police bail: Yes/No (If yes $…………………………………………………………
Reasons for apposing bail are:
1. Accused has known record/previous conviction (state)
2. Accused has pending cases at court (quote Station, C.R/CRB No.) BYO CENTRAL CR 1018/6/04 CRBs 4196-4206/04 and BYO CENTRAL CR 180/6/07 CRBs 310-2/07
3. Accused is likely to abscond (give reasons e.g. has no family, no house, etc)
4. Accused is likely to interfere with evidence/witnesses (give reasons why you say so) THERE ARE OTHER OUTSTANDING ACCUSED WHO EVADED THE POLICE DURING THE ARREST AND ARE STILL AT LARGE WHO NEED TO BE FOLLOWED UP.
5. Accused is likely to commit other offences (give reasons): THEY HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF COMMITTING OTHER/SIMILAR OFFENCES AS THEY HAVE OUTSTANDING COURT CASES.
6. Any other reason(s): THE ACCUSED ARE HIGHLY MOBILE AND CAN MOVE FROM ONE CITY/TOWN AND CAN BE HARBOURED ELSEWHERE BY THEIR ORGANISATIONAL COLLEAGUES STREWN AROUND THE COUNTRY, RAISING DIFFICULTIES OF LOCATION THEM IF GRANTED BAIL.

Section D
Date investigation should be completed 12 June 2008 possible number of witnesses SIX (06)
Date: 29/05/2008 Signature: …………………..(Rank) D/ASS/INSP.(No.) 037428 G
Checked: Officer/Member-In-Charge

Section E
Officer/Member-In-Charge
Z.R Police

A N N E X T U R E
ACCUSED PERSONS

4. NOLWANDLE SIMUNYE Age: 25 yrs

5. CELINE MADUKANI Age: 34 yrs

6. MELBA NHAVHAYA Age:58 yrs

7. ALICE KASINAMUNDA  Age: 42 yrs

8 . CLARA MANJENGWA  Age: 30 yrs

9 . VERONICA CHISHAMBWA Age: 52 yrs

10. REJOICE CHAUKE Age: 38 yrs

11. LILIAN NTEFULA Age: 27 yrs

12. TARISAI ZHEKE Age: 24 yrs

13. VERINA MUCHEGU Age: 46 yrs

14. MANDLENKOSI MOYO Age: 32 yrs

MELA UMNTANAKHO

Ukhetho selubuye lwedlula, ngakho iWOZA yethulela isigqoko kumaZimbabwe ahambe ayavota ngokuthula langesineke elibelaso lilinde iZEC ukuze ilungise izenzo zayo. Sekwedlule iviki singelampumela ngakho ke sithanda ukutshela iZEC ukuthi ingasijwayeli, inengi lethu sivote sikhonona sisazi ukuthi impumela ingatshontshwa. Abezombangazwe bayasongelana bethethisana lona ilizwe lisifa. Ngicela ugxile ingqondo yakho ngekusasa yomntanakho obumfisela yona nxa ubala lapha. Cabanga ukuthi abantwabakho benzani? Bangabe besesikolo bephatheke ezifundweni njalo befunda kuhle mhlawumbe balele ematafuleni esikolo baswele ababalisi? Bangabe befolele amanzi mhlawumbe badinga inkuni? Mhlawumbe bakhatshana emazweni? Kungabe kuyikufisa  kwakho lokho okwenzeka kumntanakho na? Bengaqhubeka bethumbe impumela yokhetho akulahulumende omutsha esizamthola sifune inhlalakahle kazulu esifaneleyo, kuze kube nini silinde impumela yokhetho thina vele sesabona okwakulotshwe emnyango yokuvotela njalo siyazi kamhlophe ukuthi savotela inguquko. Ngeviki eliphelileyo uzulu usebenzise ivoti ukukhuluma kuzwakale – kodwa ukukhwaza kukazulu kwenziwa ize. Lamhlanje yilo ilanga lokutshengisela ngokuthula sikhumbuza iZEC labozombangazwe ukuthi THINA abavoti yithi abanini bokhetho njalo THINA asisoze sibavumele benze santando ngevoti yethu. Senze isinqumo ngo X njalo kumele sihlonitshwe.

Umntwana ongakhaliyo ufela embelekweni.

UMNTANAKHO UKHANGELELE UKUTHI WENZE NGOKUTHULA ISENZO ESIZAVIKELA IVOTI NJALO SIKHULULE IMPUMELA.

Lamhlanje lithuba lokuqhubeka ngomzabalazo wokufuna ukuqondiswa kwamagobo kwezenhlalakahle kanye lokuzothisa uzulu weZimbabwe.

Ivoti lethu ngeviki ephelileyo, bekungenye indlela yokukhumbuza inkokheli ukuthi sifuna njalo kumele sibelenhlalakahle, engachasiswa kuthiwa yindlela enika abantu ukulingana, amathuba afanayo, ukufinyelela ezomnotho, amasiko, inkolo lokuphatheka kwezombangazwe kungakhathalekile umbala, umhlobo, ukudalwa kwakho lokunye nje ukubadlululwa.
Sithe sisiyavota sikhetha inkokheli ezintsha besifisa lokhu. Sifuna inkokheli ezizaqakathekisa okulandelayo:
·    Ukuthola amalungelo eneleyo kwezomnotho, ezamasiko, ezombangazwe lokuhlalisana kukazulu
·    Ukulingana komuntu wonke okugoqela ukulingana kwemihlobo
·    Ukuhlonipha amalungelo oluntu, okugoqela omama labantwana
·    Inkululeko egoqela ezokukhuluma, ukubuthana lobudlelwane
·    Ukuhlonipha lokubekezela amasiko lezenkolo ezehlukeneyo
·    Ukubaluleka lokwelusa indlela inkokheli ezisebenza ngayo, njalo zifeze izinqumo zikazulu
·    Ukuphathisa okulinganayo kwezombangazwe
·    Ukwethulwa kwemithetho okulinganayo lokufinyelela, ukwahlulelwa okusobala lokwazi  lokuzwisisa umthetho
·    Ukuqondisa amagobo, ukuhlukuluzwa okwadlulayo okunjengo Murambatsvina le Gukurahundi
·    Inhlalakahle yabantu
·    Ukuthola imfundo eyeneliswa nguzulu
·    Ukuthola ukudla okwaneleyo njalo esikwenelisayo
·    Ukuthola izindlu ezanelisekayo ezilamagetsi, izambuzi lamanzi ahlanzekileyo
·    Ukuthola okweneleyo kwezempilakahle lokwelatshwa lama ARVs
·    Ukwabelana umhlabathi ovundileyo ngokufanayo lokokulimisa lokubangumnini wawo
·    Amathuba alinganayo kwezomsebenzi, kwezokuziphilisa lokuthola iholo elenelayo ukuthi uziphilise
·    Ukuthuthukisa kwezakhiwo lokuthola okokuhambisa okweneliswa nguzulu
·    Ukusebenzisa ezemvelo ngonanzelelo langemfanelo

SingamaZimbabwe sifuna inhlalakahle esihlala  sikhuluma ngayo kodwa singayithola nxa sizimisele ukusukuma siyifune kunkokheli zethu. Qalisa lamhlanje.

Khathesi yisikhathi sokubopha ziqine umele ikusasa yomntanakho.

Against brute force and injustice the people will have the last word – that of victory. Che Guevara, South American revolutionary

STAND UP FOR YOUR CHILD

The election has come and gone and WOZA would like to pay tribute to Zimbabweans for the peaceful way they went out to vote and for the patience they have shown while waiting for ZEC to get their act together. A week has passed without the results and ZEC are taking our patience for granted. Some of us went to vote as a protest knowing that there was a high chance of the result being rigged or stolen. Politicians are trading insults and threats whilst Zimbabwe burns. When you read this, please think about your child and the dreams you had of a better life for them. Think about what your children are doing. Are they in school studying hard and doing well or sleeping on their desks without teachers? Are they queuing for water or looking for firewood? Or are they far away in a foreign land? Is this the future you imagined for them? As long as the results are held hostage we cannot get a new government and demand the social justice we need and deserve. For how much longer can we wait for the results when we have seen them outside polling stations and know that we voted for a change? Last week, people used the polls to speak out – but our voices are being ignored. Today is the day to take peaceful action to remind ZEC and politicians that WE, the voters, are the owners of the election and WE will not allow them to ignore us. We made our decision with our X and it must be respected.

Today is the day to end the silence.

YOUR CHILD EXPECTS YOU TO DO SOMETHING RESPONSIBLE AND PEACFUL TO DEFEND YOUR VOTE AND LIBERATE THE TRUE RESULTS.

Today is also the day that we continue our struggle for social justice.

Our vote last week was just another way in which we reminded our leaders that we want and deserve social justice which can be defined as a system where people have equal opportunities/access to social, economic, cultural, religious and political needs regardless of race, gender, creed or any other form of discrimination.

This is what we were thinking of when we went to choose our new leaders. We want leaders who prioritise the following:
· Full enjoyment of all social, political, economic and cultural rights
· An equal society including gender equality with full respect for all human rights including women’s and children’s rights
· Freedoms including speech, assembly and association
· Respect and tolerance of diversity – culture and religion
· Transparency and accountability
· Equal participation in political and economic decision-making
· Equal application of the law – access to justice and understanding of the law
· Correction of past injustices such as Gukurahundi and Murambatsvina
· Gutsaruzhinji/inhlalakahle yabantu (good living), including adequate and affordable food
· Access to affordable education
· Access to affordable housing, electricity, sanitation and clean water
· Access to affordable healthcare and medication including anti-retrovirals (ARVs)
· Equal and fair access to fertile land, inputs, equipment and secure ownership
· Equal opportunities to resources, employment, self-help projects and the right to earn a living wage
· Development of adequate infrastructure and access to affordable transport
· Environmentally sustainable usage of resources

As Zimbabweans we deserve the social justice that we talk about but we can only get it if we are prepared to stand up and demand it from our leaders. Make a start today.

Now is the time to keep standing strong for your child’s future.

AFRICA DAY 25 MAY 2008

RAMBA WAKASHINGA UCHIMIRIRA MWANA WAKO

Sezvo nyika dzese dzemuAfrica dzichipemberera zuva re Africa Day viki rino, nengo dze WOZA dzakaona kusina kukosha kuita izvi. Musi wa 25 May izuva rekupemberera kugarisana kwakanaka nekubatana kwe Africa, asi hapana chekupemberera sezvo wurombo uchienderera mberi nemakore atinofanira kurarama achidzika. Chii chiripo chekupemberera sezvo maZimbabwe avasisina kuvimba kuti kodzero ravo rekuvhota richaremekedzwa. Atisi kuona kuti vatungamiri ve Africa vachirikuremekedza hunhu vachiziva kuti vari vanhu navo vemu Africa. Vanhu vakaita savaRobert Mugabe naThabo Mbeki vanoziva kuti munhu munhu ne vanhu.

Robert Mugabe munhu – anoonekwa nechi bhakera.
Awa ndiwo mashoko atirikuda kuudza vaMugabe nemusiwe Africa Day:
Va Robert Mugabe takukuzivai nemhirizhonga yamurikuunza kwatiri – vanhu vemuZimbabwe. Tino remekedza zvamakaita kuti tiwane Zimbabwe yakanaka asimhirizhonga yamurikuita inowonekwa nemaratidziro enyu echibhakera anakunaka. Vanhu vekuMatebeleland nekuMidlands vaitsigira ZAPU vakauraiwa panguva yeGukurahundi pakutanga kwegore ra 1980. Vagari vekumunda wePorta vakasangana nayo mhirizhonga iyi navo sezvo vaitsigira va Ndabaningi Sithole.Muna 2000 vakatanga chirongwa chekutora mapurazi zvisiri pamutemo vechishandisa mhirizhonga vachida kuranga maZimbabwe akaramba kuiiswa kwezvigamba mubumbiro remitemo, naizvozvo atichawani kudya kwakakwana. Mugore raa 2005 kwakaitiwa chirongwa che Operation Murambatsvina apa vaida kudzikisa hutsigiri hwe Movement for Democratic Change sevzo taibva musarudzo dza 31March 2005. Takuona chimwe chirongwa chinonzi ‘Operation Mavhotera papi’ apa vairanga vanhu vakateedzera kodzero ravo rekuvhota. Tirikuda kuti murangarire vesi remu bhayibheri rinoti zvinu zvese zvine nguva yazvo saka remekedzai kuti ma Zimbabwe akavhotera mutsauko March.

Thabo Mbeki munhu naye.
Awa ndiwo mashoko atirikuudza va Thabo Mbeki:
Pamaka batana ruoko navaRobert Mugabe mukati ‘akuna chakaipa muZimbabwe’vanhu vemuZimbabwe nevemunyika yenyu vakashamiswa nekuita kwenu. Kusava nehanya kwenyu kwakaratidzika nekunonoka kwenyu kutaura zvirikuitka munyika yenyu apo vanhu vachirasikirwa neupenyu hwavo pasina zvabaka pama. Apo tichiviga varikuraiwa nemapurisa nevarikuuraiwa mu South Africa tirikuti ropa ravo ririmawoko enyu. Toda kuti muchengetedze hunhu hwenyu muchi vanhu chedu muchiita zvamunotaura. Muchirinenguva yokuti murarame zvakanaka.

Kwasara viki rimwe kuti tiyende musarudzo dzekusarudza mutungamiri wenyika asi mhirizhonga irikuenderera mberi zvakanyanyisa. Tichitarisa mabasa eWOZA tichaedza nenzira dzese kuti tiudze vanhu kuti vano vhota. Tichavaudza kuti vanyasowongorora kuti vaMugabe ivo banotungamira ‘bato rakarwa hondo’ vakundikana kuunza Gutsaruzhinji. Nekuramba kupudisa zvakapuda musarudzo nenguva nekutanga mhirizhonga kuvanu vakavhota zvino ratidza kuti kuramba kwake rusununguko ruzere rwakafirwa nemagamba edu kuti mumwe nemumwe achava ne vhoti yake. KumaZimbabwe ose nga tivotereyi vaMorgan Tsvangirai timupe mukana kuva mutungamiri naye.

ISU ZVIZVARWA ZVEMUZIMBABWE TINODA ZVINOTEVERA:
1.    ZANU PF inofanirwa kubvisa makempu e ma militia, voregedza mhirizhonga kuvana vemu Zimbabwe.

2.    Mapurisa ngavasunge vese varikukonzera mhirizhonga besingatyi.

3.    Tirikuti kuva tungamiriri vose varimumatongero enyika ropa rakateuka kuti mumwe ne mumwe ave nevhoti yake sakatichaenderera mberi neku vhota nekudzivirira vhoti yedu murunyararo.

4.    Tirikuti kuvarwiri verusununguko vechokwadi tibetserei kupedza mhirizhonga iripo nekutaura pachena varikupama mhirizhonga iyi muzita renyu

5.    Tinoda kuudza mapurisa kuti hakuna runyararo kana kusina kutongwa kwakanaka. Gamuchirai kuti maZimbabwe avhotera mutsauko saka regerai kushandiswa kuita mhirizhonga. Kana shanduko yauya yauya. WOZA ichada kuti pave nekuongororwa kwevashandi vemuhurunde zvichivatanidzwa nemapurisa nemasoja. Isu vagarisani nemi tinokuzivai nezvese zvamurukuita zvakaipa nezvakanaka hatizokanganwi tererai zvakanaka vakuru venyu vachawana zvakanaka zvakawanda kanavakusiyi basa vachienda kupenjeni asi imi muchasiiwa pachena makutongerwa mhosva dvenyu.

6.    Hurumende yeZimbabwe yogadzirisa zvirikudiwa ne SADC pakuita sarudzo vozo teedzera mirao yacho, ne ZEC yovumirwa kuita basa rao zvakanaka

7.    Tirikuti kune ZEC ngairatidze hunyanzi hwayo  nekusadeera kudivi rimwe rematongerwo enyika, vaone kuti zvapuda musarudzo zvabudiswa pachena ’24hrs’ kubva kuvarwa kwemabhokisi atavhotera.

8.    Tirikushedzera kunyika dzemu SADC, African Union ne United Nations kuti vatumire vanotarisa nezvesarudzo  munaraunda dzese dzeZimbabwe kuitira kuti tive nechivimbo chekuvhota. Vanofanirwa kutaura pachokwadi zvirikuitika ikoko

9.    Kuhurumende ye South Africa tirikukumbira kuti moisa pachena mutongo wevanhu vakatanga mhirizhonga [Xenopphobia attacks].

Tirikuda kutenda masangano akazvimirirra oga emuno nedzimwe nyika nekuratidza hanya kumuri ye Zimbabwe – vakazviita nekuratidzira ku Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa ne Botswana maviki afura. Tirikuva koka kuti ngavauye vazoongorora sarudzo dziriku uya  nekuti vagare vachitinamatirawo sezvo tasvika murima rekuedza

Zvekupedzisira tirikuudza vanhu vemu Zimbabwe kuti vave ne runyararo voona kuti vhoti yavo ichaveregwa muviki inotevera

Mirira ramangwana remwanawako nekuvhotera mutungamiri achaunza Gutsaruzhinji musi wa27 June 2008

YANGUVA YEMUTSAUKO

AFRICA DAY 25 MAY 2008

umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu

YOU STILL NEED TO STAND STRONG FOR YOUR CHILD

As our whole continent marks Africa Day this week, WOZA members think that it has become meaningless. 25 May is supposed to be a celebration of the African spirit and unity. Yet what is there to celebrate when poverty is increasing and our life expectancy is decreasing? What is there to celebrate when Zimbabweans no longer have faith that their right to vote is respected? We do not see evidence that African leaders still value the principles of ubuntu/hunhu and count themselves as part of the African people. Do people like Robert Mugabe and Thabo Mbeki remember the saying ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu / a person is a person because of people’.

ROBERT MUGABE is a PERSON – the person behind the fist.
This is our Africa Day message to him: Robert Mugabe, you have become known to us for the violence you have unleashed against us – the people of Zimbabwe. Although we respect the role you played to bring about Zimbabwe, the violence you direct with your trademark fist is not a good legacy. People in Matabeleland and Midlands, supporters of ZAPU, were killed during Gukurahundi in the early 1980’s. Residents of Porta Farm also paid a high price for supporting Ndabaningi Sithole. In 2000, violent land invasions were unleashed to punish Zimbabweans because they refused your constitutional amendments. We are no longer the breadbasket of Africa as a result. In 2005, Operation Murambatsvina was designed to quell rising dissent and support for the Movement for Democratic Change after the 31 March 2005 election. Recently we saw Operation MaVhoterapapi (where have you voted) conducted to punish people who exercised their right to vote. We ask you to remember the biblical verse that for everything there is a season and respect the fact that Zimbabweans voted for change in March.=>

THABO MBEKI is also a PERSON.
This is our Africa Day message to him: When you held the hand of Robert Mugabe and said “what crisis”, people in Zimbabwe and in your own country were shocked at your lack of sensitivity. A lack of sensitivity that again showed itself by your delay in commenting at the loss of innocent lives in the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. As we bury our dead, killed in Zimbabwe by state agents, and those killed in South Africa, there is no denying that their blood is on your hands. We ask you to restore our belief in your African Renaissance and practice what you preach. You still have time to leave a positive legacy.

The day of the presidential run-off, 27 June, is just four weeks away but there is no change in the political impasse and violence is widespread throughout Zimbabwe. Recognising WOZA’s role as human rights defenders, we will work tirelessly to persuade Zimbabweans that they must prepare to turn out in high numbers to vote in the run-off. We will ask them to face the fact that Mugabe as the leader of a so-called ‘liberation war party’ has failed to deliver social justice. By refusing to release results timeously and unleashing violence on voters, Mugabe has betrayed the one man one vote ideal our heroes died for. We advise Zimbabweans that their vote must be a vote for Morgan Tsvangirai, giving him a chance as a transitional president.

WE, THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE, THEREFORE DEMAND THE FOLLOWING:
1. That ZANU PF close all militia camps and end the violence against the people of Zimbabwe immediately.

2. That the Zimbabwe Republic Police arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of violence without fear or favour.

3. That political leaders at all levels remember that blood was spilt to deliver the ‘one man one vote’ ideal for Zimbabweans. We will continue to vote and defend our vote in a determined and peaceful way.

4. That the ‘real’ war veterans help us stop the violence and speak out against those perpetrating the violence in their name.

5. That the uniformed forces realise that there is no peace in the absence of justice. We ask them to respect that Zimbabweans have voted for change and refrain from being used to perpetrate violence and to carry out injustices. When change comes, and it will come, WOZA will demand an audit of all civil servants, including the uniformed forces. We, your neighbours in our communities, know you for the things that you do, both good and bad. We will remember. Hear us loud and clear – your leaders may get generous retirement packages but you will be left to face the justice of the law and the anger of the people. When you see us in the streets, we come in peace with love in our hearts and you have the choice to respond likewise and allow us to do our work as mothers of the nation. Good actions will also be remembered and rewarded.

6. That the Zimbabwean government make the necessary arrangements to comply with the SADC principles governing elections and to allow ZEC to do their job without interference.

7. We call on ZEC to be professional and non-partisan and to ensure that the results are released within 24 hours of the ballots closing.

8. We call on SADC, the African Union and the United Nations to assist us by sending observers to all areas of Zimbabwe to help us feel confident of exercising our right to vote. When they attend they should show leadership by publicly acknowledging the human rights violations being perpetrated.

9. We ask the South African government to make transparent the prosecution of those arrested for xenophobic attacks so that we can feel confident that there is still justice in the law in South Africa.

We would also like to thank civic society organisations both in the region and abroad for their continued solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe – shown in demonstrations in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Botswana in the last week. We would like to invite them to come to Zimbabwe to observe the run-off and ask that they keep us in their thoughts and prayers as we face the darkest hour before dawn.

Lastly WOZA would like to implore ALL Zimbabweans to remain calm but committed to making their vote count in these next few weeks.

Stand up for your child’s future by voting on 27 June 2008 for a new president who must deliver social justice.

IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE!

Two WOZA members, including a 15 year-old girl, were arrested in Bulawayo on Saturday afternoon. They were held for two days by police before being released late last night with no charge.

It appears that ZANU PF members in the area had witnessed some people taking a bag into the house of a WOZA member. They alerted the police who waited outside the house as no one was home. When one of the women went to the house to ask for salt, she was arrested by the four plain-clothed police officers who accused her of being a WOZA member. When the 15-year-old daughter of the house arrived shortly afterwards, she was also arrested. Police then illegally entered the house and confiscated a bag of WOZA flyers.

When the older woman shouted to a neighbour that she was being arrested, she was hit by one of the police officers who told her to keep quiet and not tell anyone, as their being arrested ‘was a secret’. The two were then taken to Pumula Police Station where they were questioned about WOZA leaders, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, both who are currently in Chikurubi Women’s Prison. They were threatened with death if they did not answer the questions correctly. One police officer, a sergeant, also constantly demanded that the young girl have sex with him and threatened to have her sent to prison if she refused. She however continued to resist, saying that she would rather die in prison than get disease.

Both were questioned for several hours. The 15-year-old girl was finally released at 2am but was told to return to the police station in the morning. She was accompanied back to her house by two male police officers who continued to pressure her to sleep with them. The other woman was kept in the charge office at Pumula Police Station and made to sleep handcuffed to a pole, apparently because she was a high flight risk.

The questioning of both women continued in the morning. When a lawyer tried to gain access to them, he was turned away and told that he could not see his clients without the permission of Law and Order officers from Bulawayo Central Police Station. The two were taken to Bulawayo Central in the afternoon where they were questioned in the presence of their lawyer. Both were released around 7.30pm without charge and ordered not to tell anyone in their area that they had been set free.

Police went back to the neighbourhood in the afternoon however and searched the house of another woman whom they accused of being a WOZA member. They did not find any WOZA materials and left. They have threatened to search every house in the neighbourhood however as they say that the entire area is obviously WOZA.

Meanwhile, the trial of two other members, Trust Moyo and Cynthia Ncube, on charges of distributing materials likely to cause a breach of the peace, has been postponed to 8th July.

The 14 members arrested on 28th May appeared on remand in Harare Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning (Friday 20th) and were further remanded to 3rd July. Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, who are still in custody at Chikurubi Women’s Prison, were remanded in absentia as the truck bringing them from prison did not arrive on time. Williams, who is facing extra charges of communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the state and causing disaffection amongst the police force, was also remanded to 3rd July on those charges.

Williams and Mahlangu are now entering their fourth week in prison. They remain in good spirits despite the conditions in Chikurubi. Lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers from Human Rights (ZLHR) are continuing to work on appealing their continued detention. The two would welcome visits from anyone who would be able to make it to Chikurubi.

Meanwhile, two other WOZA members, Trust Moyo and Cynthia Ncube, go on trial in Bulawayo on Monday 23rd charged with distributing materials likely to cause a breach of the peace after being arrested in a peaceful demonstration on 5th May.

Click here to see a copy of the appeal launched in the independent Zimbabwean press Free Williams and Mahlangu appeal

Eleven of the 14 WOZA members arrested on 28th May 2008 were finally released from remand prison on bail on Friday evening (13th June) after 17 days in custody. Three members, including Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, remain in custody in Chikurubi Female Prison.

Williams and Mahlangu have been denied bail because the State claims that they will organise Kenya-style violence around the election period. The third woman was detained further because the names on her identity documents were different. Her family has now produced her marriage certificate and it is hoped that her release will be secured today.

Other than suffering from colds, stomach ailments and lice, those that have been released are fine and in good spirits. All 14 are due to appear on remand in Harare Magistrate’s Court on Friday 20th June.

There is great concern at the continued detention of Williams and Mahlangu who have now been designated as ‘prisoners of conscience’ by Amnesty International. Although the defence is trying to appeal to the Supreme Court against the denial of bail, it is clear that the State is trying to keep them in custody until after the 27th June presidential run-off and perhaps much longer. As some prisoners at Chikurubi Female Prison have been on remand for several years without appearing on trial, these fears are not ungrounded.

Conditions in the prison are also not ideal. There is no running water at Chikurubi, meaning that all water has to be carried in by bucket from a near-by pond. Cells, blankets and all conditions are therefore very dirty due to the lack of adequate water. It is also extremely cold but attempts are being made to ensure that Williams and Mahlangu receive regulation jerseys, which are unavailable, hence must knitted by friends or relatives.

The State appears to be deliberately frustrating the work of the lawyers of these nonviolent human rights defenders. Most recently the office of Judge Ben Hlatshwayo who heard the appeal, is claiming that the matter cannot be further appealed to the Supreme Court because it originated in the Magistrate’s Court. Defence lawyers are currently trying to clarify what options are now available the correct legal position.

The release of the 11 members was also only secured after several suspected delaying tactics by the State. The 14 were first taken to court at 4.30 pm on Friday 30th May, several hours after the maximum 48-hour period allowed, and obviously too late for a meaningful court hearing. The group was then remanded in custody until Saturday 31st May for a bail hearing. On the 31st, Magistrate Rusinahama granted the group bail – Jenni Williams at ZWD 10 billion and the other 13 at ZWD 5 billion each – and remanded them to 6th June. The Prosecutor, Public Mpofu, immediately indicated his intention to appeal against the Magistrate’s decision and the group was further remanded in custody pending the appeal hearing.

Despite Mpofu’s assurance to the group that he was only following orders and would lodge the appeal immediately, the notice of intent to appeal was only lodged on the 5th June. The date of the appeal to the High Court was set for Tuesday 10th June. Nonetheless, the State only provided the defence with their arguments at 4pm on Monday 9th June meaning that the defence was unable to submit its replies to Judge  Hlatshwayo in time. The judge therefore postponed his ruling until Wednesday 11th June.

On the 11th, Judge Hlatshwayo dismissed the State’s appeal against 11 of the members but ordered that Williams and Mahlangu remain in custody. The State had argued that they would organise violence during the election period, and in light of the State’s zero-tolerance attitude towards pre and post-election violence (sic), they should be remanded in custody until trial.

When WOZA’s lawyer and several supporters attempted to go to Chikurubi on Wednesday afternoon to inform the group of the ruling, war veterans in a ZANU PF vehicle prevented them from entering the prison complex. The supporters were told that they would only be allowed to see the WOZA prisoners ‘when they were dead’. The war veterans then tried to force them to accompany them to the provincial ZANU PF headquarters in the city centre, a renowned torture base. Fortunately the WOZA vehicle eventually managed to evade their pursuers in the traffic, after a prolonged chase.

Shaken by their ordeal, the WOZA supporters tried to pay bail on Thursday morning only to be informed that the rules had changed that very day and now it was necessary to obtain a bail form from the prison authorities before being able to pay bail at the Magistrate’s Court.  Upon requesting the bail forms at Harare Remand Prison and Chikurubi Female Prison, the officers-in-charge at both prisons insisted that they could not understand the High Court document ordering the release of the 11 prisoners. The officer-in-charge at Chikurubi insisted that the High Court produce different documents that she could understand.

Having finally obtained the different High Court documents and bail forms from the two prisons, when the WOZA supporters tried to pay bail on Friday afternoon, they were informed that the WOZA file had been locked away. It was only with great difficulty that the bail could be paid for 11 of the WOZA group. As mentioned previously, bail could not be paid for the 12th member as she uses her maiden name but the passport she was forced to surrender is in her married name.

Sisterhood Bond

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WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE ARISE – WOZA
P. O. Box FM 701, Famona, Bulawayo
By Women for Women and with Women, across Race, Colour, Creed, Class or Political Persuasion. Empowering Women to be Courageous, Caring, Committed and in Communication with their Communities.

WOZA SISTERS
SISTERHOOD BOND

My name is …………………………………………………………………………………………

I give my word that I will strive to stand up in support of my sisters. I will give ‘her’ my hand in support as we struggle together towards our rightful place as equals in society. Working together, hand in hand, we shall bring Zimbabwe back to peace, justice and prosperity.

As the struggle continues, I will remember the following guidelines:

1. To speak out and encourage other women to do the same, so that the female voice is heard. Women should no longer suffer silently.
2. To participate in peaceful assembly and meetings to discuss our challenges and to act rather than complain.
3. To be a comfortable shoulder to lean on or a listening ear. ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’.
4. To demonstrate love and courage in our homes and communities so that people can shake away fear.
5. Women are the mothers of the nation and must demand that Dignity.
6. To be a supporter of Non-violence so that people can see that problems can be solved peacefully.
7. To seek out and be in solidarity with like-minded women.
8. To be God fearing and encourage activities that promote spiritual health.
9. To support Democratic participation with tolerance for differing views and opinions.
10. “An injury to one is an injury to all”.

I give my word!

Signed: ………………………………………………………… Date: …………………………………

Witnessed by: ……………………………………… Witnessed by: ………………………………

Copyright © 2004

The 13 WOZA women and one man are spending another night in custody in remand prisons in Harare.  The State’s appeal against bail awarded in the magistrates court May 30 was due to be heard today.

However, the State only filed their arguments late yesterday afternoon, which meant the ZLHR lawyer representing WOZA could only submit their arguments this morning. Judge Hlatshwayo said that he needed time to read them and postponed the hearing until tomorrow.  If the State’s case fails, the members should be  released tomorrow.

If it succeeds, WOZA will continue to press for their freedom.  They are being unjustly punished without trial for exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression and assembly.