13 WOZA activist arrested and beaten on International Day of Peace

By Violet Gonda
22 September 2005

Police violently broke up demonstrations held in Harare and Bulawayo by the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), Wednesday. Thirteen women were arrested in Bulawayo and several were beaten in Harare.

About 250 activists had turned up in Harare and 450 in Bulawayo to mark International Day of Peace. The women marched under the theme "Peace not Poverty" and sang songs highlighting hunger and abuse of their rights.

Woza co-ordinator Jenni Williams said it was the police who disturbed the peace by beating and arresting the activists. Harare police tried to block the women who were singing "Tine nzara" (We are Hungry), from getting to Town House. The women sat down in protest but that didn't stop the riot police from beating them. Williams said a couple of women had to receive medical treatment for baton-inflicted wounds.

The group was calling on the authorities to stop Operation Murambatsvina saying this insensitive so-called clean up is making the poor much poorer.

In Bulawayo, the group decided to start their protest at Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, to deliver a warning regarding the constant increases of electricity tariffs perpetuating their poverty. They then marched directly to the administrative offices of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. They chanted slogans and sang 'Amalungelo' (our rights) upon their arrival and left placards at the doorstep of the police station.

As they were dispersing, 3 women were arrested by plain clothes officers. Another ten were arrested at St Mary's Cathedral, three blocks away from the police station. One of the women was an innocent bystander. Lawyers were denied access to the detained women.