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Zimbabwe:
Fear for Safety/Intimidation
Amnesty
International
AI Index: AFR 46/005/2005
April 01, 2005
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR460052005?open&of=ENG-ZWE
Amnesty International
is seriously concerned for the safety of the leaders and members
of the grassroots women’s activist group Women of Zimbabwe Arise
(WOZA). This follows the arrest of approximately 260 women, some
carrying babies, at a peaceful post-election ‘prayer vigil’ in the
capital Harare on 31 March. Although all of the women were released
the following day, it is the fourth time WOZA activists have been
arrested in 2005 and there are fears that further arrests may follow
in the coming days and weeks.
On the evening
of 31 March, approximately 260 women, including WOZA leaders, Jenni
Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, were arrested at the peaceful ‘prayer
vigil’ in Africa Unity Square in the capital, and detained at Harare
Central Police Station. It is reported however that not all of the
people arrested were taking part in the prayer action. During and
after the arrests, several of the women were reportedly beaten.
Some were forced to lie on the ground and were beaten on the buttocks
by police officers. Others were beaten while trying to get out of
police vehicles. Some of the women are reported to be injured, at
least three of them seriously. None were given access to adequate
medical treatment during their detention.
Approximately
ten men, arrested at the same time as the women, were released that
same evening without charge. The women however were detained overnight
in overcrowded conditions and many were forced to spend the night
in an open-air courtyard. The detainees were not given access to
lawyers until 1 April. Police reportedly told the women that they
could pay a fine if they pleaded guilty to road traffic offences,
and would be released. However if the women did not pay the fine,
and admit to offences under the Road Traffic Act, they would remain
in detention over the weekend until 4 April when the courts re-opened,
to face charges under the repressive Public Order and Security Act
(POSA). This Act violates internationally recognised human rights
to freedom of expression, association and assembly guaranteed under
the African Charter and International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights - to both of which Zimbabwe is a state party. Over the course
of 1 April all of the women – several of whom are reported to be
elderly, injured or with their children – elected to pay the fines
rather than spend the weekend in the cells, during which time they
could be subjected to further harassment, threats and poor conditions.
Between February
2003 and March 2005 hundreds of WOZA activists have been arrested
by the Zimbabwe police while taking part in peaceful demonstrations
to protest the worsening social, economic and human rights situation
in the country. WOZA activists have been verbally and physically
abused in police custody and denied access to lawyers, food and
water. Babies and young children have been detained with their mothers,
sometimes overnight in police cells. The repeated pattern of arrest
and detention has not deterred the women from organizing their peaceful
protests. The leadership of WOZA has often been targeted. For example,
on 7 March 2004 Bulawayo police arrested several WOZA leaders –
including Magodonga Mahlangu and Jenni Williams – as they left a
meeting. They were kept in custody until 9 March, apparently in
an attempt to prevent them from organising a WOZA demonstration
to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March. When they appeared
in court on 23 March, the prosecutor refused to press charges.
View all AI documents on Zimbabwe: http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maadl1uabfEa6bb0hPHb/
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