WOZA and MOZA members beaten during Bulawayo protests

By Tererai Karimakwenda
May 05, 2008

There is concern for several people who are missing and others who were injured after police beat demonstrators from the Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise in Bulawayo on Monday. The group took to the streets to call for an end to the politically motivated violence that has left more than 20 people dead in the last few weeks, and to say that they are against a run-off presidential election. But unfortunately they met up with exactly what they were protesting against. It has also been reported that riot police were beating any group of women that they come across in town.

According to WOZA coordinator Jenni Williams, the protestors had just gathered and begun to march when they were violently set upon by 2 truckloads of riot police who viciously beat people with their baton sticks. She said the vehicles came from behind the protestors at top speed and knocked over several of them, causing some serious injuries. At least 59 people needed medical attention from injuries from baton sticks and vehicles. About 7 people were arrested but it is not clear where they were taken to. Lawyers have not been able to locate them.

Williams said they regrouped an hour later and adopted a different strategy, they marched silently. This allowed them to get quite close to the High Court, where they planned to deliver a petition demanding that the chief election officer declare MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai the country’s president, as he is the candidate that secured the greatest number of votes in the elections. They also said they wanted to make it clear that they do not want a run-off election, because it would only result in more state-sponsored violence.

Amongst those beaten and injured was Jenni Williams, who was assaulted both on the street and in a police vehicle. She was detained briefly in a police car and later released, but there is concern for others who were arrested. Lawyers have not been able to ascertain how many there are or where they were taken. The second batch of those arrested were last seen being driven to an area near Brady Barracks.

Williams said they will continue to speak out on important issues, despite the violent response that the police exhibit each time.