State security forces step up repression in Bulawayo
By Tichaona Sibanda
1 December 2006

Robert Mugabe’s regime has been accused of engaging in a ‘dirty war’ of arbitrary arrests and detentions reminiscent of the operations carried out by former Rhodesian leader Ian Smith in the 1970’s.

The increasingly unpopular Zanu (PF) regime has also been accused of using all means at its disposal to silence its critics. Bulawayo resident Reggie Moyo said the regime has become obsessed with targeting those perceived to be its enemies.

In the past week security forces in Bulawayo, the second largest city in the country, have used brutal force to clampdown on peaceful protesters. On Tuesday they severely assaulted street theatre artists for satirising the country’s economic crisis. And on Wednesday they arrested over 60 members of the pressure group Women Of Zimbabwe Arise, including six babies, during a launch of the activists’ People’s charter.

The four artists, all members of a street theatre group Umkhula were arrested for performing a critical play entitled ‘Indlala’ (Hunger). The artists told ZimOnline that police arrested them for inciting people to revolt against Mugabe’s government.

‘Repression in Bulawayo is on the increase but unfortunately for the authorities this will only strengthen our resolve to get rid of the regime. I have seen most of the plays by the street artists and I see nothing wrong in what they do because it’s a portrayal of the real issues on the ground. And what do the police gain by assaulting a group of harmless women launching their own charter. This is what a repressive government operates,’ Moyo said.