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Parliament Adjourns as WOZA Members arrested
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
October 05, 2004

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25-30 members of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise have been arrested at Parliament Building after attempting to present a petition to the Speaker of Parliament, Emerson Mnangagwa this afternoon. The much expected parliament seating today ended in an anti-climax as Parliament was adjourned just 30 minutes into the session without any reading of the bill.

WOZA members reached parliament approximately five minutes after a group celebrating the swearing in of the new Member of Parliament for Seke, (ZANU PF) were afforded Police Escort to Parliament and wielded party placards at the Harare Gardens. The group, comprising mostly women numbered at least a hundred.

Members of the diplomatic corps and representatives from the NGO sector were among those present to witness the coming of WOZA women to Parliament. It was not clear whether WOZA representatives did manage to present the petition.

Members of WOZA have been taken to Harare Central Police Station, presumably they are under arrest. Meanwhile two journalists have been arrested by police in connection with this incident.

Parliament will resume sitting tomorrow. It is however not clear whether the NGO Bill or the Electoral Commission Bill will be read in this sitting. Parliament Orders for the session do not show that the Bill will be presented.

The Resident will update members on developments as they come.

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