State agents disrupt WOZA meeting in Bulawayo
By Tererai Karimakwenda
18 December 2006

State agents pretending to fit in among members of Women Of Zimbabwe Arise disrupted a meeting on Saturday in Bulawayo. Unfortunately for the agents WOZA members recognized some of them, especially one named Abraham Dapi who is known to be a PISI officer. About 170 members had gathered to reflect on the Harare launch of the Peoples’ Charter at Parliament.

WOZA coordinator Jenni Williams said Dapi tried to disguise himself by reading a copy of ‘The Zimbabwean’. Yet he had testified for the state after the women were arrested for demonstrating against Operation Sunrise. At the time Dapi said the women had not been beaten enough. Williams told us the meeting was almost over when the agents forced their way in with some latecomers so they decided to disperse before any problems started.

As the women left the Bulawayo church that hosted the meeting, Jenni and Magodonga Mahlangu were followed by the agents. Jenni said it seemed as though they were attempting to steer them towards a nearby police station. So the women took no chances. With the help of WOZA security details they monitored the agents’ movements reporting them to the pair. Eventually they lost them.

According to Jenni, the police stole money from 2 MOZA members who they approached when the meeting had dispersed. Jenni added that police have been stealing money and property from innocent civilians for a long time now, particularly at roadblocks. She fears that this type of theft will escalate during the holiday season. Calling it “theft with impunity”, Jenni said the police officers are usually young suspected graduates from the youth militia camps. Since the government has no money to pay them, they are allowed to get away with stealing and harassing people.