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Hwange police batter defenceless demonstrating wives
Bulawayo Agenda
October 07, 2013

http://platform2012.blogspot.com/2013/10/hwange-police-batter-defenceless.html

More than 100 Hwange Colliery Company workers’ wives were brutally assaulted and arrested by police on Monday morning as they were marching towards the company’s headquarters over their spouses’ five months outstanding salaries.

A Bulawayo Agenda “Community Witness” in Hwange says four demonstrators sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment in hospital while several others are being held at Hwange Central Police Station.

It is alleged that police used teargas and baton sticks to disperse close to a 100 defenceless women who had gathered at the company’s compound, carrying pluck cards demanding that their husbands be given their salaries.

“Police officers did not even listen to the women. When they got to the scene they ran towards the group and started beating everyone within reach,” said the Community Witness Talking to Bulawayo Agenda, one demonstrator said that they wanted to hand over a petition to the company’s senior management on behalf of their husbands.

“We are hungry and the management does not want to listen to our husbands’ demands,” said a demonstrator who requested anonymity.

While citizens are seeking government intervention they continue to face brutality from overzealous state security agents. Two weeks ago police violently dispersed WOZA demonstrators in Bulawayo and Harare, brutalising and arresting the groups’ management in the process.

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