Arrested NCA & WOZA activists released

By Violet Gonda
9 March 2007

All 37 activists from the National Constitutional Assembly who were arrested in Harare on Thursday were released on Friday afternoon, after paying admission of guilt fines of Z$2 500 each.
Meanwhile the 20 members of another pressure group, the Women of Zimbabwe Arise, who were arrested in Masvingo on Tuesday were finally released on bail of Z$30 000 each, also on Friday afternoon. WOZA spokesperson Annie Sibanda said: “They had been in custody for three days over the 48 hours allowed by POSA because police were using the usual delaying tactics, blaming their equipment which they said were not working so they couldn’t take statements or fingerprints.”

She said three of the activists were assaulted in police custody. Allegations of police brutality are no longer unusual in Zimbabwe as the police are increasingly using thuggish behaviour against peaceful protestors. It’s reported they used patrol dogs on NCA demonstrators as they tried to march in the Harare on Thursday.

The pressure groups have been trying to hold peaceful demonstrations despite a ban on public gatherings in all cities. The NCA is calling for a new constitution while WOZA is demanding a better social and economic life.