WOZA detained over night & students released in Bulawayo

By Violet Gonda
7 February 2007

The pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise reports that 11 members were arrested in Nketa Bulawayo on Tuesday. WOZA coordinator Jenni Williams said eight women, three men and two babies were arrested by police who had disrupted their meeting just as it started. She said the mothers and babies were released into the custody of their lawyer for the night but nine remained in custody. They were all released Wednesday morning when the two mothers went to report to the police.

The group says since Monday there has been an incredible amount of surveillance by police details at their meetings. Commenting on Tuesday’s arrests, Williams said: “We were due to have a meeting to discuss the issue of school fees for our members when plain clothes police officers came. We decided to dispense with the meeting and these people were actually arrested some blocks away from the venue after riot police came from the Tshabalala station.”

Meanwhile most of the students who were arrested in Bulawayo on Tuesday have been released. A statement by the Zimbabwe National Students Union said 76 students were released on Wednesday after paying fines but 2 student leaders are still in police custody.

ZINASU reports that some of the students sustained serious injuries after the police beat them.

The group said the police were still holding Blessing Vava, the Bulawayo Poly SRC President and Lawrence Mashungu, the National Chairperson of Zimbabwe Student Christian Movement, who is also the ZINASU regional Chairperson. Reasons for their continued detention were not given.