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Arrest of women and children
Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF)
August 23, 2006

The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum strongly denounces the continuance of arbitrary arrests and flagrant disregard of human rights of its own citizens by the Zimbabwean Government. The recent arrest of over 180 members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and the newly formed Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA) in Bulawayo tells volumes of the state’s intolerance of any democratic dissent against its policies. The victims’ only crime was to express their discontent with the recent drastic economic measures by the Reserve Bank entailing an abrupt currency conversion, through a peaceful march.

What is most shocking of these arrests is that 5 babies were detained together with their mothers in the police cells for two days and two nights. The police actions were outrageous given that the cells are infamous for appalling conditions, posing an obvious hazard to the babies’ health. In addition, they acted contrary to regional and international instruments to which Zimbabwe is a party and must abide by The International Covenant on the Rights of Children and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights provide that children are immune from imprisonment.

It is indeed a callous and barbaric act of repression. As an organization fighting for the protection and promotion of the human rights of Zimbabweans ZEF implores the Zimbabwe State to take its obligation to safeguard its citizens seriously and stop mutilating their rights.

Gabriel Shumba
Human Rights Lawyer and Executive Director

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