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ACTSA condemns civic leaders' arrests in Zimbabwe
Action for Southern Africa
November 12, 2008

As SADC leaders sought to find an expedient solution to the current political deadlock in Zimbabwe on Sunday 9th November, the climate for civil society in Zimbabwe has got increasingly worse. Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) today called for an immediate end to the persecution of civic leaders in Zimbabwe amidst the recent bout of arrests.

Dr. Lovemore Madhuku, Chairperson of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), was detained at 6 a.m. on the morning of 11 November 2008, in advance of the NCA's planned demonstrations in five cities across Zimbabwe

An NCA spokesperson said: "The NCA emphatically condemns this unjustified obstruction of the organisation's peaceful protest actions. However, the NCA refuses to be intimidated by this illegitimate unwarranted aggression and remains committed to its campaign for democratic reform."

Meanwhile, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, leaders of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), were detained in Bulawayo after their arrest on 16 October for leading 200 strong sit-in to demand food aid for the hungry and the immediate formation of a power sharing government. Williams and Mahlangu were eventually released on bail on 6th November but were back in court to face charges on 11th November.

Tony Dykes, ACTSA Director said: "It is deeply concerning that while political negotiations continue that people's basic rights to assemble, organise and protest are being grossly violated. For any form of democracy to occur in Zimbabwe, these basic standards must be met and people must be allowed the freedom to speak without fear of persecution."

ACTSA will hand in its petition to the Embassy of Zimbabwe in London on Tuesday 18th November and are encouraging people in the UK to sign the petition calling on the Zimbabwean government to cease the detention of human rights defenders and drop the charges placed on the activists involved. To sign the petition visit http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/End_Civil_Society_Persecution/index.html

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