Police accused of abuse and torture by arrested WOZA women

16 February 2006
By Violet Gonda

Hundreds of activists from the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) are still languishing in police custody at Harare Central Police station, and officials say they are being physically abused by the police. WOZA Project Coordinator Jenni Williams, who earlier this week spent a night in police custody with 181 others in Bulawayo, said at least 150 women are still in custody in Harare and the police are using every trick to force them to pay fines.

“Police are denying them food, denying them water. Every dirty trick that they can play they are playing it and yet they themselves are starving in their homes.”

The WOZA women were arrested during Valentine’s Day marches calling for food and dignity. Their theme was “bread and roses.”

Williams, who was also this week nominated for an international human rights award, told us the police from the Law and Order Section were using brutal force to make the women suffer. She said not only have the activists been denied food and water but access to toilets is also being denied. They were allegedly kept in the blazing sun from 2pm until sundown in Harare while those in Bulawayo were kept out in the rain for 6 hours.

Because of this pressure, about 30 mothers with toddlers and pregnant women were released after paying fines of ZW$25 000 each. But by 2 pm Thursday the police suddenly decided to raise the fine to $250 000, making it difficult for the remaining women.

A WOZA statement said that several women were assaulted, with some being slapped with open palms across the face. Others were allegedly kicked in their sides by booted officers as they sat on the floor in detention.

It is also alleged that another woman who developed bad stomach pains in detention was only released after being forced to pay a fine. Those on ARV treatment were unable to take their medication because they were denied food while some 38 women spent Tuesday night standing in one tiny cell.

Williams said this was sheer malice aimed at punishing people who are fighting for their freedom.

In spite of all this the women say they are determined to fight for their rights. Jenni Williams said the WOZA women have been inspired by Mahatma Ghandi’s methods of peaceful resistance, as he once compared a prison cell to a garden of freedom.

She said, “These were the words that inspired women when we were mobilizing for bread and roses and that is why you see a huge number of us wanting to be in the garden where our freedoms can be won.”

The women strongly believe the pillars of Mugabe’s support are crumbling. In Bulawayo, for example, the prosecutor refused to prosecute the women saying there was insufficient evidence.