WOZA members arrest themselves in solidarity outside ZESA headquaters in Harare

Watch video footage of the demonstration here: WOZA ZESA demo Harare 15.04.10

Jenni Williams, Magodonga Mahlangu, Clara Manjengwa and Celina Madukani will remain in custody until Tuesday 20th when they will be taken to court. The four women have yet to be formally charged. Police officers tried to force the activists to pay admission of guilt fines, which they refused to do as no offence had been committed.

The continued detention of the women is once again a clear indication that harassment of human rights defenders continues unchecked under the government of national unity and makes a mockery of the Independence celebrations that no doubt will be taking place across Zimbabwe this weekend. 30 years later, the majority of ordinary Zimbabweans still do not enjoy the fruits of freedom. The promises of the liberation war have not been delivered to Zimbabweans who struggle to survive every day, wondering how they will feed their children tomorrow. Human rights and dignity denied to women, men and children who wish that the great achievement of 30 years of independence from colonial rule was something that could be celebrated. There is very little to celebrate in the cold, dark cells of Harare Central Police Station.

Please continue to call Harare Central Police Station on (+263 4) 777777 or (+263 4) 736931 or (+263 4) 725803 or (+263 4) 733033 or (+263 4) 721212 to ask police officers why they are continuing to detain the WOZA activists and insist that they not be mistreated in custody.

It has also emerged that a 23-year-old MOZA member, Timothy Katyora, was beaten in Harare Central Police Station yesterday by six uniformed officers. The young man was with a group of activists who presented themselves at the Charge Office attempting to hand themselves in in solidarity with their arrested comrades. Timothy was hauled away from the rest of the group into the guard room and beaten over the head by six officers, who were questioning him constantly about what he was doing there. After being beaten for several minutes, he was chased out of the police station. Timothy received medical treatment for bruising and headaches this morning.

The arrest and continued detention of the four women for exercising their constitutional right to demand a fair service for the electricity that they pay for makes a mockery of the Independence celebrations that no doubt will be taking place across Zimbabwe this weekend. 30 years later, the majority of ordinary Zimbabweans still do not enjoy the fruits of freedom. The promises of the liberation war have not been delivered to Zimbabweans who struggle to survive every day, wondering how they will feed their children tomorrow. Human rights and dignity denied to women, men and children who wish that the great achievement of 30 years of independence from colonial rule was something that could be celebrated. There is very little to celebrate in the cold, dark cells of Harare Central Police Station.

Please continue to call Harare Central Police Station on (+263 4) 777777 or (+263 4) 736931 or (+263 4) 725803 or (+263 4) 733033 or (+263 4) 721212 to demand that the WOZA activists be taken to court tomorrow and that they not be mistreated in custody.

Watch footage from the demonstration here: ZESA demo Hre 16.04.10

The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) defines violence against women as ‘any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, force or denial of freedom, whether happening in public or in private life.’

Women of Zimbabwe Arise and Men of Zimbabwe Arise invite all Zimbabweans to join in this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, from 25 November to 10 December. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international movement, which began in 1991. The dates 25 November (International Day Against Violence Against Women) and 10 December (International Human Rights Day) were chosen in order to link violence against women and human rights and to show that such violence is an abuse of human rights.

This year, Zimbabwe will join the rest of the world in recognising 29 November, which is International Women Human Rights Defenders Day. OUR SPECIAL DAY!

WHY?
It is a step forward to have the promises of the Domestic Violence Bill delivered and put an end to state-sponsored violence so that we can concentrate on rebuilding our country and saving lives…

edical News Today reports: “The life expectancy for women in Zimbabwe is 34 years, the lowest in the world, according to the World Health Organization‘s World Health Report 2006. Men in Zimbabwe have a life expectancy of 37, according to the report.”

Gender Violence in Zimbabwe
Women form 56% of the population in Zimbabwe and usually it is the mother who must provide food despite the tight budget. We women bear the burden of the economic hardship. A government official said recently that 60 per cent of all murders in Zimbabwe were a result of domestic violence, with the majority of them being women.

The campaign also comes after the passing of the Domestic Violence Bill in Zimbabwe. The Bill makes domestic violence a crime and covers areas like economic and mental abuse, threats and pestering. Cultural practices that shame women, such virginity testing, female genital damage, wife inheritance and the custom of offering young girls as payment in disputes between families, will become illegal.

Violence Against Women and HIV/AIDS
According to international studies, violence against women, especially forced sex, increases women’s exposure to HIV infection. Violence and fear of violence limits a woman’s ability to discuss safe sexual behaviour, even in agreement. Women who are infected with HIV, or who are suspected to be infected, may also face violence and/or dumped. Fear of violence and shame can discourage women from seeking information on HIV/AIDS, getting tested for HIV, disclosing their HIV status and seeking treatment and counselling. Since violence can affect women’s willingness to be tested, it can also have a negative result on larger HIV control, treatment and prevention programmes.

There are three kinds of violence, including state-sponsored violence, that are causing Zimbabweans to die young: Violence of the FIST, Violence of the TONGUE and Violence of the HEART.

Help us to expose this violence and hold those who practice it accountable.

Advancing Human Rights
When WOZA was formed in 2003, the founders recognised that it is mothers who have to find a way to feed their children or to raise the morale in the home so that the family can be peaceful and happy. So they mobilised and prepared each other for the burden of state-sponsored violence and continue to demonstrate against the shortage of basic foods, as well as poor governance and our children’s right to education. Instead of addressing our issues, the government of Zimbabwe arrests us, beats us up and harasses us. All the defenders of WOZA and MOZA require are to fully exercise their right to Freedom of Expression, to Criticise, to Protest and to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly.

The majority of Zimbabweans fought the liberation war for equality and freedom of expression. Now state newspapers, television and radio are only for the tongues of the politically correct. While we know that there is a need for such a law as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), it is the selective application of the law that we object to. Where are the Daily News, The Tribune and other independent newspapers? Why is Radio Africa and Studio 7 jammed? Even Smith did not stoop so low as to jam Radio Chokwadi/Qiniso, broadcast from Mozambique during the liberation war. What is wrong with our views now – why can we not also hear Radio Africa and Studio 7? We demand our freedom of expression and we chose to bang pots at 8pm on purpose – to ‘jam’ propaganda news of this regime that does not want us to hear the truth.

Advancing – despite the risks
Although the Domestic Violence Bill could bring some relief to the many beaten and abused women and men, WOZA, as women human rights defenders in Zimbabwe, do not have much protection outside their homes. Harsh laws such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act continue to hound them. The passing of these unjust laws, even though most nationalists in government were arrested under the Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA), shows a bad heart on their part.

Through POSA and AIPPA, government thinks it has silenced the people. But some, like the defenders in WOZA and MOZA, are prepared to disobey what they see as unjust laws and speak out. Despite POSA, they continue to ACT. Despite harsh conditions in police cells and ill treatment by cruel officers, both uniformed and non-uniformed, they continue to SPEAK OUT.

We quote a sister, Rhoda Mashavave, in her an article titled, ‘Women pin hopes on domestic violence bill’, from zimbabwejournalists.com, “It is rather unfortunate, however, that the Bill will not cover state-sponsored violence which continues to follow women. Take a look at the case of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), the resilient women’s pressure group. These women have been on the front position, protesting against high food prices and human rights abuses in the country. As a result, these women have become jailbirds as they continue to be arrested each time they hold peaceful demonstrations. They have been harassed and beaten up by the police in the process”.

No matter what they do to us, WOZA and MOZA will continue to speak out and act against violence against all Zimbabweans – women, men and children. We will not suffer in silence. We need you to join us – in the words of one of WOZA’s founders, the late Sheba Dube, “Stand up, unite and call a spade a spade.”

At noon today, 500 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise marched to the offices of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), Megawatt House, in Harare. Three simultaneous protests converged at the ZESA headquarters where the peaceful group handed over ‘yellow cards’ to staff members of the electricity service provider along with a report that outlines WOZA’s demands.

The peaceful group waited patiently for management of ZESA to come and address them to no avail. Finally, riot police, armed with tear gas and shotguns arrived. ZESA security guards insisted that they arrest Jenni Williams, WOZA’s National Coordinator, who had been attempting to persuade management to come and address the crowd. Police officer initially demurred but the ZESA security guards insisted until the riot police arrested Williams. When the protestors saw the arrest of their comrades, many handed themselves in in solidarity, jumping into the police vehicles to ‘arrest’ themselves. Others followed to Harare Central Police Station where they also tried to hand themselves in but were turned away. Approximately 70 members are currently in custody in Harare Central Police Station, including Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu. Human rights lawyers are in attendance.

As with the peaceful protest in Bulawayo on Monday, the demonstration sought to put pressure on ZESA to provide a more efficient service and billing system and to stop taking advantage of economic problems to bill people excessively for a substandard service. The ‘yellow card’ serves as a month’s notice to ZESA to shape up or face ‘suspension’. WOZA/MOZA also threaten to mobilise for a ZERO service ZERO bill boycott.

The protestors received immense support from bystanders and from people who were at Megawatt House to complain about high bills. One resident of Glen View high density suburb showed WOZA leaders his monthly electricity bill of USD 1,681.50.

It is believed that there is absolutely no electricity in any of the police cells at Harare Central Police Station. This is obviously a cause for concern should the activists be detained overnight. Please phone Harare Central Police Station on +263 4 777777 to demand that the WOZA activists be released immediately.

To read a copy of WOZA’s yellow card, click here: ZESA yellow card

To read a copy of WOZA’s report on electricity services in Zimbabwe, click here: WOZA report on ZESA

Two members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise were arrested today at a public meeting convened by the Competition and Tariff Commission at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo.

Two hundred members of WOZA and MOZA attended the public meeting in order to present their views to the Commission on ZESA. As the delegation were due to answer questions, two members, Million and Mavis Sibanda, took the opportunity to go to the toilets, which are in the reception foyer. As soon as they entered the foyer, they were grabbed by two plain clothed police officers who searched their bags. The police officers then insisted the two members accompany them to Central Police Station. This incident took place under the eyes of the Commission Secretary who was registering attendance in the foyer.

WOZA National Coordinator announced to the meeting of the arrest of the two members, asking the Commission and the Permanent Secretary of Energy and Development to explain this harassment when members had come to engage ZESA as consumers. She then called on the members present to hand over their ‘yellow cards’ and leave. Whereupon all 200 members present processed to the front stage to hand over the cards and walked out.

WOZA leaders then questioned the Commission Secretary as to why these people had been arrested and she referred the matter to her boss. Two of the ‘bosses’ came out of the function and were informed of the arrests. They agreed that as organisers they would follow up and asked WOZA members to come back in to the meeting. They declined until their members were released.

At the police station, Million and Mavis were being interrogated as to their objective in the meeting and a bunch of ‘yellow cards’ found on Million were confiscated. They were mwade to narrate their life history which was noted down on a profile form. Some other police officers then apparently came to their rescue asking why they had been arrested. Upon hearing the explanation, they said they are also suffering from high electricity bills and long cuts and that WOZA should be allowed to protest on this issue. They then insisted the two WOZA members should be released. Upon confirmation of their release, the rest of the WOZA members went back into the meeting.

WOZA would like to condemn the continued harassment of human rights defenders and questions the commitment of the state to allow citizens to participate in public forums.

To read a copy of WOZA’s ‘yellow card’, click here: ZESA yellow card

To read a copy of WOZA’s report on electricity services in Zimbabwe, click here: WOZA report on ZESA

AT noon today, 12th April 2010, approximately 1,000 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise marched to the offices of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) offices in Bulawayo. Their aim was to deliver yellow cards to the electricity service provider for poor service and high tariffs. No arrests have been reported to date.

Four simultaneous protests converged on the Lobengula Street offices but officials quickly closed the gates and locked the doors, refusing to come out to receive the ‘yellow card’. The peaceful protests were mobilised after members decided they needed to put direct pressure on ZESA to provide a more efficient service and fair and affordable billing system.

The issue of ZESA needing a telling-off seemed to have wide support and both vendors and bystanders joined in the protest. The protestors sang a popular song: ZESA – into oyenzayo siyizonda (ZESA we hate this thing you are doing). Police officers who responded on foot and by vehicle were heard to support the protest through direct comments to WOZA members. One police officer said to a member, “you are back from telling ZESA off? Well done keep it up.”

As the peaceful group tried to persuade ZESA officials to come out and received the yellow cards, business activities in the ZESA building and at the police headquarters opposite came to a halt, with staff seen peering over the walls and out of windows supporting the protest. A ZESA employee was overheard saying, “maybe we will get paid on time now because of this pressure.”

WOZA leaders knocked at the door to the offices for over 15 minutes trying to get the ZESA officials to come and receive the ‘yellow cards’. People dressed up as ‘bosses’ were seen converging at the reception giving instructions to the receptionist and also trying to call on their mobile phones. They refused to come to the door to receive the ‘yellow cards’, but once these were posted under the door, they quickly came to collect them. The thousand-strong procession then dispersed, walking calmly past the police vehicle, which was parking to monitor the protest. 11 police officers just stood and watched. After the crowd had dispersed a ZESA employee came out and started to kick the placards onto the street but a police officer told him to stop and pick them up nicely. The same vehicle was then seen driving around town for 30 minutes monitoring the dispersing of members, including the tailing of WOZA leaders, Williams and Mahlangu.

The ‘yellow card’ for ZESA comes with a warning to shape up their service during the month of May or face a ZERO service ZERO bill boycott of payments from 1st June 2010. Members using fixed meters advised ZESA that the current service only deserved a US$5 payment rather than the current level of payment calculated for a full service.

Along with the warning members are only willing to pay US$15 for 24 hours 7 days a week service. Consumers are aware of an ongoing consultative process to look at tariffs. This process is at the public hearing stage hosted by the parliament appointed Competition and Tariff Commission.  The card serves as a months notice to shape up or face ‘suspension’.

WOZA is a community based social movement of 70,000 members countrywide and as such have capacity to mobilise a boycott.

To read a copy of the WOZA ‘yellow card’, click here: ZESA yellow card

For a full copy of WOZA’s report on electricity services in Zimbabwe, click here: WOZA report on ZESA – April 2010

To all Zimbabweans on Valentines Day 2010, our message is simple:

Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses too. Shine Zimbabwe Shine! Khazimula Zimbabwe Khazimula! Penya Zimbabwe Penya!

It is not enough that bread has returned to our shelves. Our hearts are also starving for a people-driven constitution. We demand a living constitution that will give us bread and roses too! Just like the thorns on a rose, love comes with pain; we must be willing to fight through the pain to get our new constitution. Demand your Rose – stand up for love.

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Report on Democratising Zimbabwe – our opportunity to shine!

In 2009, WOZA shared what we think the building blocks of democracy are with over 11,000 members, urban and rural, through a booklet and workshops. We wanted to raise awareness that Zimbabwe needs a democratic form of government committed to making sure that all the building blocks of democracy are in place for all citizens to enjoy social justice. As 2009 closed, a further consultation of the state of our democracy after the power sharing government was conducted. 4,016 people gave us their views.

Did the power sharing government bring more democracy or lessen it?

Members felt that the power-sharing arrangement has decreased democratic space. There is no genuine sharing of power; too much legal and actual state power is still in the hands of one person – Robert Mugabe. The other two principals are not active enough at wrestling power away from ZANU PF or enforcing the 15 September 2008 GPA. The general feeling was that the power-sharing government may have stabilised the economy but it did not bring democracy. Members also expressed sadness that despite MDC’s holding cabinet positions they have not managed to reduce the harassment of their own members or to increase their member’s freedoms of expression and assembly as well as their free movement. How therefore can they be expected to deliver more freedom for the people of Zimbabwe?

If an election is called and no electoral reform is conducted, will you feel confident that your vote will count?

There is little confidence in an election before the constitutional process is complete, as we need a new system of checks and balances if our votes are to be respected and counted. Some said voting is a risk worth taking as it is the only way to choose the leaders; people will take the risk because they want to have a government made from one party that will rule and concentrate on the constitution-making process. We need SADC, African Union and the United Nations monitors and observers. We need a more transparent appointment process of Zimbabwe Electoral commissioners.

Do you feel that the parliament-led constitutional consultation process can still bring a people-driven constitution?

People want to give their views and write their own constitution but worry that the current consultation process has too many loopholes that can be manipulated to change their views into those wanted by politicians. Because of the public bickering over resources, people are losing confidence in the select committee. The delays are foul play so that time is lost and people are forced to settle for the ‘Kariba Draft’. As long as Mugabe or parliament is the last to verify or debate/finalise the draft, people will not trust that their views will be included. Will it still be called a people-driven constitution if there are only a few prominent persons who have the final say?

Has government spending become more transparent?

We do not see a spirit of transparency and embezzlement and corruption are still rampant. We worry that funds are still being diverted for personal use of politicians. Most people agree that they believe that public funds should go through the Ministry of Finance but the Minister must also be transparent about what he does with it. Mr Biti, why are youth militia employed as civil servants and get paid for beating and maiming people in the name of the ZANU politics. Mr. Biti where are the road repairs you promised when you introduced the tollgates? Pay civil servants a living wage so they stop demanding bribes from ordinary people.

Are civil rights more respected under this government?

The personal security situation for ordinary people is not secure – anyone can be arrested for anything and end up forced to pay a bribe or a fine without any clear wrongdoing. Bring back banned newspapers for a clear signal of open media space.

Has the rule of law improved or become worse?

Most people polled believe that the rule of law in the country has worsened for the following reasons: police officers apply the law selectively or solicit bribes and are not working professionally to reduce crime. Court orders are ignored and law officers still follow political orders when making judgments. Vendors are criminalized and are always on the run despite the need to revive the economy. Illegal land grabs from ZANU officials are continuing.

Has the power sharing government made your personal life better, worse, or nothing has changed?

It is still survival of the fittest. There has been some change for those who are rich but for the poor nothing has changed. The dollarisation of the economy stabilised prices and the economy in general but the gap between rich and poor widened. The reason is simple – there was no increase in employment opportunities and genuine encouragement of informal trade. The few who are employed are paid too little to survive or to put back into the economy as disposable income. Service delivery remains hijacked by too much political interference in local councils; people continue to suffer flowing sewages, increased electricity and water cuts, and many homes going without services for weeks at a time.

As we finalise this report, the power-sharing government turns one year old. The promises made upon its birth filled us with hope and gave Zimbabweans an opportunity to shine. Remember what they said on 15 September 2008 and then again on 12 February 2009 during the swearing in ceremony? “Concerned about the recent challenges that we have faced as a country and the multiple threats to the well-being of our people.”

One year later, this ‘baby’ is taking steps – learning how to walk. The baby has taken the first step – the economy is a bit more stable and food is on the shelves, with a quiet promise of jobs. WOZA, the mothers of the nation, would like to see steps toward a full democratisation of Zimbabweans systems. These are the eight building blocks of basic democracy we need:

1.    Elections – Before the referendum, we need to have confidence that a voter’s roll will be transparently prepared and displayed for viewing. We need a truly independent electoral commission.
2.    Opposition – we need to see democracy in action – a genuine welcoming of different political voices.
3.    Civil rights – we are citizens with rights and must be allowed to enjoy all our rights without fear or harassment. We look forward to the passing of the bill amending POSA. We need to see the promised security sector reform with special attention on police reform because it is police who abuse our rights on a daily basis.
4.    Rule of law – start to prosecute perpetrators of politically motivated violence urgently – everyone must obey the law or be punished.
5.    Separation of powers – the presidential appointment of Tomana and Gono has resulted in a further mixing up of the functions of government. For judicial reform, Tomana and other political appointees in the Attorney General’s office must go and be replaced by professional people who will balance the scales of our justice system.
6.    Equality – we are writing this into our new constitution. Please Parliament Select Committee do not betray this ideal by cheating us when we give you our views.
7.    Transparency and accountability – as long as we have a politically partisan Reserve Bank governor, there will be no investor confidence, jobs will not be available and workers receive a living wage – therefore Gono must go. Minister Tendai Biti, we need more transparency and accountability from you. Studying your strategy from the trenches, it looks you want to squeezing money out of poor peoples pockets to fund the recovery. You need to do better to cushion the poor! You must stop the police from criminalizing informal traders. Please don’t forget about the children’s education, they are our future.
8.    Participation of the people – Our report is called ‘hearts starve as well as bodies – give us bread but give us roses too!’  We want our ‘rose’, which is our own constitution! Allow a genuine people-driven process for the constitutional consultation for our full participation. Disband militia camps and let our children come home. The police must stop arresting people without good reason; you police officers are crucial to allowing people to feel free. To the three principals, you promised us a society free of violence, fear, intimidation, hate, patronage, corruption and founded on justice, fairness, openness, transparency, dignity and equality.

ZIMBABWEANS lets us ALL participate in democratizing our country: people must participate and politicians must practice it – this is our opportunity to shine!

WOZA is clear about what it want – a placard at the protest in Bulawayo 08.03.10

SIX HUNDRED members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) marched to the High Court in Bulawayo today in protest against the utterances of the Minister of Education, Senator David Coltart, made in Parliament last week. The Minister said that he would not stop teachers from receiving the illegal incentive payments demanded from parents. Minister Coltart had been invited to receive a petition that the peaceful demonstrators were delivering but could not attend due to a prior commitment. A clerk at the court received the petition instead.

WOZA vigorously oppose the practice of teachers refusing to teach children until their parents provide them with cash incentives. These ‘top-ups’, over and above the usual school fees and school levies which most parents are unable to afford anyway, are just another nail in the coffin of the education system in Zimbabwe. In a recent report on education released in January 2010, entitled ‘Looking Back to Look Forward – a WOZA perspective on education in Zimbabwe’, WOZA demanded that the Ministry of Education stop this practice immediately. It is therefore incredibly disheartening for the Minister to publicly state that they have no intention of doing so.

Four simultaneous protests began and converged upon the High Court. Police officers and clerks at the court merely watched the peaceful protest, listening to the song sung by the demonstrators – “women are crying for an education for their children. Their tears are sorrowful.”  WOZA chose International Women’s Day for the protest as the education of their children is an issue close to the heart of every mother.

WOZA National Coordinator, Jenni Williams addressed members outside the Court, explaining that Minister Coltart’s utterances in parliament were unfortunate as they promoted illegal incentives and corruption. Magodonga Mahlangu lead the singing and sloganeering that finally dispersed the peaceful group.

After the protest dispersed, two plain-clothed police officers cornered Williams and Mahlangu outside the Post Office. As they called for back up the activists calmly walked away.

WOZA leaders were recently summoned by the co-ministers of Home Affairs and instructed to notify police of any processions despite the fact that WOZA does not need to notify police under the current exceptions as it is not a political organisation. Before being dismissed, Minister Giles Mutsekwa of the MDC delivered a subtle threat that they could be ambushed on their return to Bulawayo that day.  It is unclear as to if it was intended as an active threat but in the current security situation, activists remain vigilant about continued reports of threats on civic society leaders.

Sibongile Matupe and Rose Rukwewo, the two women arrested in Mutare on Wednesday, have finally been unconditionally released. Their lawyer, Mr Nyamaropa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, had managed to get the two women released into his custody last night on the proviso that they would appear in court this morning charged with criminal nuisance. Investigating Officer Renzo had initially insisted on keeping the women in for the full 48 hours despite acknowledging that he had no evidence that they had done anything illegal. Upon arrival at court this morning, the prosecutor refused to accept the charges as police had no evidence. The women were therefore unconditionally released.

Both women are okay after their ordeal. Rose, an elderly woman who suffers from hypertension, had been unwell. She received medical attention this morning and will be all right.

WOZA would like to commend officials in Mutare Magistrate’s Court for their observance of the law and for refusing to participate in the malicious harassment of two innocent women. We would also like to thank all friends and supporters who tried to call Mutare Police Station or emailed their support. Rose and Sibongile have been informed of the solidarity they received from all over the world and are humbled by the support.

The two women arrested in Mutare yesterday, Sibongile Matupe and Rose Rukwewo, remain in custody at Mutare Central Police Station despite the fact that police have admitted that they have no evidence to charge the two women with participating in a demonstration. They now want to prefer charges of criminal nuisance against the women even though the women were taken from their own homes at the time of their arrest. In an act of pure maliciousness and harassment, police are also insisting that the two women remain in custody for the full 48 hours before being taken to court.

Officers from Law and Order are also insisting that they want to make more arrests of people they claim participated in the peaceful street protest on Tuesday 16th. They apparently have a list of people that they looking for. This is despite the fact that they already have admitted that they have no evidence to charge anyone with participating in the peaceful protest.

There are concerns for the well-being of Rose Rukwewo, an elderly woman, as she suffers from hypertension and is currently unwell. The lawyer’s attempts to have her released on medical grounds have come to nothing.

The arrest of these women is further evidence that nothing has changed on the ground for human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. Police continue to act with impunity and without any regard for the law – the houses of the two women were searched without warrants; they were also denied access to their lawyer for hours, during which time they were subjected to intense interrogation. The two women were also subjected to severe pressure to pay ‘admission of guilt’ fines.