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Don't
imprison to investigate
On 16 October,
Women of Zimbabwe Arise held a demonstration
in Bulawayo to demand government action on the nationwide food crisis.
Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were arrested, and were remanded
in custody until Tuesday 21 October. When they went for their remand
hearing, they were told the court is “very busy,” and
they were remanded in custody until Friday 24 October. On that day,
they were told the Magistrate was at a workshop, and were remanded
in custody until Monday 27 October. On that day, the Magistrate
denied them bail, saying that it would not be “in the best
interests of justice” to release them.
The pair are
being charged under Section 37 1(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification
and Reform) Act - ‘disturbing the peace, security or order
of the public’. This is not a violent crime, but the section
of the Criminal Procedures and Evidence Act which Magistrate Maphosa
cited in her ruling, as justification for her decision, only makes
mention of violent crimes.
Williams and
Mahlangu are left with the option to appeal to the High Court. But
the very fact that they could spend more than 13 days in remand
waiting for their trial is indicative of the sorry state of Zimbabwe’s
justice system.
Meanwhile, the
pair must endure the terrible conditions at Mlondolozi Female Prison.
Cells are overcrowded and full of lice, and food is extremely limited.
Prisoners receive only a small amount of sadza with green vegetable
cooked in water – no salt or any other form of nutrition.
The lack of salt is particularly worrying given the extreme heat
being experienced at the moment. Prison guards also routinely insult
inmates.
This extended
period in remand happens just months after Williams and Mahlangu
spent over a month in difficult conditions in Chikurubi Female Prison,
when they were also remanded in custody following a protest in May
of this year.
Show
your outrage!
- Phone Magistrate
Charity Maphosa on +263 9 71051 and ask her to explain her decision
to deny bail to Williams and Mahlangu.
- Email the
Ministry of Home Affairs on moha@gvt.co.zw
or fax +263 4 707231 and demand that the Zimbabwe Republic Police
(ZRP) stops arresting peaceful demonstrators who are only exercising
their Constitutional right to freedom of expression.
- Phone the
Ministry of Justice on +263 4 734920/4 or complete their online
form and demand that government does not imprison to investigate
– and that they improve the conditions in Zimbabwe’s
prisons.
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