On Thursday, 24 July Zimbabwe's police force once again exposed the Zanu-PF government's determination to repress any freedom of speech in the country.
Approximately 50 women gathered at a pedestrian mall in the Bulawayo city center to stage a peaceful march to the nearby government offices. Their intention was to hand over a petition to protest the country's repressive Public Order and Security Act (POSA), containing laws designed to suffocate any voice raised in opposition to the ruling party.
Close to the government offices a group of primary school children were in the playground and ran to the fence to watch what they thought was a "peace march". These young children and a worker at the school were witness to a scene which has left them both traumatized and terrified.
Initially the schoolchildren thought the singing marchers were being escorted by the riot police. The group, mostly women, some with babies on their backs and a few young ones walking by their sides The school children were enjoying the spectacle when, to their horror, the police turned upon the marchers with batons and police dogs. The screaming women attempted to flee from their unrelenting assailants, some hiding underneath vehicles parked along the road, others running down the road,…
This march commemorates demonstrations held 23 years ago, in July 1960, when black Nationalists protested against the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act (LOMA). Three National Democratic Party (NDP) leaders were arrested. Over 7000 Salisbury (now Harare) residents gathered in protest against these arrests, and tried to march from Highfield to the city centre. The police stopped them and widespread riots broke out. These riots spread southwards, first to Gweru, and then to Bulawayo.
In Bulawayo the riots were extensive and went on until 27 July. Eleven activists died, more than 400 were arrested and charged. Over 20 000 people tried to meet at Stanley Square, even though their meeting was banned. Undeterred by Rhodesian police and soldiers, they roared "FREEDOM NOW" insisting on their right to assemble. Shortly after these riots, the Rhodesian government of Edgar Whitehead enacted the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act (LOMA).
In 2002, the government of Zimbabwe repealed LOMA, and replaced it with the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).