ACTION ALERT: 107 WOZA women still in custody
September 14th, 2006
As of today, 107 WOZA women are still in custody. They were arrested on the 11 September along with five babies. One woman went into labour while in custody and WOZA are still unsure as to the whereabouts of her or her newborn baby. What follows are a series of press release detailing the events since the arrests.
Please note that WOZA are asking people to help them to pressurise the police to release the women.
Although lawyers are writing to request the release of mothers and babies as well as the sick, please assist us by phoning Central to pressure for their release.
HARARE POLICE STATIONS
Braeside (Earlier reported as Hillside) – +263 4 742261 / 742260 / 742259
Mbare +263 4 706401
Glen Norah +263 4 611719 / 611478
Highlands + 263 4 495304 / 495340 / 495504
Chitungwiza + 263 70 22001
Central +263 4 733033 / 777777 (Assistant Inspector Shumba and Superintendent Tendere are dealing with this case)Don’t forget the abusive Officer Mhondoro on +263 11 513 364. (Read about Mhondoro here)
Please also call Sekesai Makwavarara and help us to hold her accountable. If there was respect for freedom of expression and assembly in Zimbabwe, our sisters would not be in custody and Sekesai would not be sitting in Town House failing to deliver basic needs such as affordable water and other services.
Call her on +263 4 752580 – 1. Her secretary Diana will put you through. The fax number is +263 4 753425.
These are the WOZA press releases, in reverse chronological order.
NEWS UPDATE
Wednesday 13th September – 3pmHARARE – 107 still in custody but are being joined by ZCTU protesters There is no news from Harare as police officers were not available in their offices today to process the 107 women for court. Last night 62 members at Harare Central signed warn and cautioned statements. There was however confusion as to who had removed the other members to different police stations. There are 10 members at Chitungwiza, 10 at Mbare, 10 at Rhodesville and 15 at Southerton. None of these members have been brought to Central to sign statements. Lawyers are still trying to make progress to get the women released but they are the same legal reaction team representing those just arrested from the lunchtime ZCTU protest.
We are still trying to track the new mother without success. Police are not providing her name and Parirenyatwa Hospital officials are being difficult and refusing to divulge information.
BULAWAYO – Six members of WOZA arrested alongside ZCTU protesters
In Bulawayo, WOZA began their protest within the vicinity of the designated starting point of the ZCTU called demonstration. Police pounced however before they had gone too far and told the women that they did not want to arrest them today but wanted ‘men’. We presume this meant ZCTU as we had seen a group of men in overalls arrested just moments before.
As more and more police came into the venue surrounds, it became apparent that ZCTU had not managed to start at the ZESA headquarters or at the TM Hypermarket. The situation became more and more tense with the police water cannon eventually arriving on the scene. WOZA women decided to switch to a Plan C and started to move people to an alternate venue but failed to keep it quiet as ZCTU members all started to follow recognisable WOZA leaders. A police traffic vehicle tailed one leader for five blocks before catching up with her and telling her to start somewhere further along than the ZCTU targeted area.
By 1pm when WOZA were about to start their demo for a second time, riot police swooped and arrested six women, among them a WOZA poet and vocalist.
WOZA recognise support from the many police who told us we were not their target today but urge them to show the same respect for our partners in the struggle for a dignified Zimbabwe.
NEWS UPDATE
Tuesday 12th September – 4pmA baby is born
News from the sisters in custody indicate that a pregnant woman amongst those arrested yesterday went into labour and has since been rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital where she has given birth. We are trying to follow up and ensure that mother and baby are well cared for. The lawyer tried unsuccessfully to gain access to her this morning but was this afternoon advised that she was rushed by ambulance to hospital.
Only 83 of the 107 have so far managed to obtain something to eat as no food is available other than that taken in by ourselves.
After a frustrating day, lawyers have finally been advised that a docket has been handed over to the Police Law and Order Department and will advise in due course of the way forward. WOZA would like to acknowledge that commitment shown by Tafadzwa Mugabe of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights in trying to ensure members gain access to their right to representation. We encourage him to continue until he is able to get them their right to appear before a court of law and be formally charged.
Meanwhile members of WOZA went to police stations to try to determine if members were in custody there and numbers. This search revealed 63 members at Central, 10 in Chitungwiza and 10 in Mbare. No one was found at Highlands or Glen Norah. We are still trying to check on Braeside and possibly at Rhodesville.
NEWS UPDATE
Tuesday 12th September – 10amLatest reports indicate that the group of women and babies (107 + 5 babies) have been split between six stations in Harare: Braeside, Mbare, Glen Norah, Highlands, Chitungwiza and Central. A pregnant woman at Harare Central is now ill from a night in crowded cells. Although lawyers are writing to request the release of mothers and babies as well as the sick, please assist us by phoning Central to pressure for their release.
NEWS UPDATE
Monday 11th September – 8.30pm107 WOZA women and five babies arrested today whilst trying to protest at Town House in Harare are spending their first night in custody. The majority of the group are being held at Harare Central Police Station but reports have been received that 19 have been moved to Hillside Police Station in Cranborne. It is unclear at the moment if any others have been moved to different stations.
Lawyers were in attendance this afternoon but the group has not been formally charged yet.
NEWS UPDATE
Monday 11th September – 3pmWOZA march on Town House despite earlier arrests
At 1.30pm this afternoon, WOZA members marched to Town House in Harare, despite the arrest of approximately 30 of their fellow members less than a block away an hour earlier. The defiant women were met at the entrance of Town House by police and arrested. Eyewitness reports state that five police trucks were seen ferrying those arrested to Harare Central Police Station.
Together with those arrested earlier in the morning, 91 women and four babies are being held at Harare Central. Lawyers have been informed and are in attendance.
The women had been carrying objection letters and placards with them to Town House. Their demands were for better service delivery in Harare, more affordable rates and the dissolution of the Commission that is currently running Harare.
More details will be released when they become available.
BREAKING NEWS FROM WOZA ….
Monday 11th September – 1.15pmWOZA women arrested ahead of a planned sit-in at Town House
Approximately 30 members of WOZA have been arrested in Harare ahead of a planned sit-in at Town House. The sit-in had been intended to demonstrate Harare residents’ anger at the shocking service delivery experienced in the capital.
The members were hoping to address their complaints to Sekesai Makwavarara, the head of the commission running Harare.
Lawyers have been informed of the arrests. More details will be released when they become available.
