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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Talks, dialogue, negotiations and GNU - Post June 2008 "elections" - Index of articles
Statement
on the arrest of Women's Coalition activists
Zimbabwe
Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA)
October 31, 2008
Zimbabwe Women
Lawyers Association register deep regret over the arrest
of Nestai Mushonga (Coordinator of the Women's
Coalition) and 41 other women as they were participating in
a non violent protest near and around the Rainbow Towers on Monday
the 27th of October 2008 being the same date when the SADC Troika
visited the
country in a bid to resolve the political impasse.
The protesters had organized
a peaceful, non-violent protest that was meant at articulating women's
plight in the prevailing socio-economic conditions in the country
and also hold a prayer service to pray for the country. The objective
of the protest was highlight to all the political party principals
and to the Troika the hardship that women and children in the country
are experiencing with the greatest plight presently being hunger,
that is, food shortages or unaffordable food prices for basis commodities
and other concerns on the prevailing economic and social challenges.
Surprisingly, the police reacted with force to scuttle the protesters
thus a number of women were physically assaulted, other were tear
gassed and 42 arrests of the peaceful protesters were made. Of the
42 women arrested were above the age of 45 clearly indicative that
the protesters did not intend to engage in any violent action.
We are concerned that
as women we continue to be excluded from spaces where we can be
able to articulate our plight and circumstances. It is common cause
that the current composition of the negotiating teams is seriously
skewed in favour of men with very little representation of women
who make up the majority of the country's population. Actions
such as that of the Police carried out on Monday thus continue to
repress women's voices and undermine their right to speak
about their circumstances and challenges.
Our recollection
of the agreement
signed by the political parties on the 15th of September 2008. Is
that one of the things that must take place in the country is the
opening up of democratic spaces. This would be characterized by
the guaranteeing of fundamental human rights such as freedom of
assembly and movement, freedom of violence which tenets are specifically
provided for in the agreement and are already protected under the
Zimbabwean constitution.
We would like
to remind the Zimbabwe Government to uphold fundamental human rights
and freedoms with a view of promoting unity, peace and cohesion
in the country in accordance with the obligations that it has assumed
under the various international and regional human rights frameworks.
Visit the ZWLA fact
sheet
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