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29 WOZA members arrested and released
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
June 21, 2005

TWENTY NINE Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) members were arrested in Bulawayo on Saturday during a peaceful procession against Operation Murambatsvina in the run up to World Refugee Day 20 June. Twenty eight were arrested on site with one handing herself in, in solidarity. The women spent 48 hours in custody and appeared in court on Monday charged with Miscellaneous Offices Chapter 3, "Blocking Traffic". They were granted free bail and will go on trial on 11 July 2005 in Provincial Magistrates Court Bulawayo. The majority of these women are vendors and many had lost homes in the last week to Operation Murambatsvina.

At 11 am on Saturday, over one hundred women gathered placards and banners held high to begin a peaceful protest. This starting group had gone three city blocks when a police detail stationed near TM Hypermarket set came at the run. They were attracted by the women who were singing an Ndebele song, "The sun has set and where I sleep tonight. I will sleep like a bird on a branch of a tree".

As is the WOZA way, the women sat down immediately upon seeing the police officers, leaving them at a loss. After the women were seat the officer barked, "Sit down, sit down" To which they replied that they were already seated. A crowd of bystanders numbering up to 300 gathered around and bravely picked up the Woza Moya (Come Holy Spirit) Newsletters being distributed by the women. Many bystanders clapped their hands in appreciation for the work done by the peaceful women.

All that remained was for the officers to call for vehicles to transfer the arrested to Bulawayo Central station in fife street. Meanwhile it later came to light that police officers armed with AK 47 Rifles were awaiting the protesters at previous demonstration starting and ending positions.

During detention, one member Siphiwe Maseko was randomly selected on orders of "Dispol" to be tortured. She endured beating with a whip like baton on her back and under the feet by plain clothes officers in the 'PISI' office. The officers tried to force her to divulge names of leaders and WOZA's funding partners. She withstood this brutality, spent two days in custody and is on the mend.

Two members, Magodonga Mahlangu and Jenni Williams who had handed herself in, were subjected to individual harassment by the Law and Order officer in charge Inspector G. Ndlovu and another senior officer, Inspector Moyo. Williams had her home illegally searched by law and order officers.

All of the women were photographed and finger printed. Those that were vendors were told that they would not succeed in renewing their vending licences.

The women, including six grandmothers, spent the time in custody cramped in a small filthy cell which could accommodate eight at a push. No food is available and food had to be bought in. Only two filthy blankets were available, and most of the women have come down with colds as it is mid winter. In the words of Gogo Mutendesi, "It was better to be in the cells than out in the open like many Zimbabweans."

The peaceful women, whose slogan is the 'LOVE' sign, could face many years imprisonment if convicted under the notorious Public Order Security Act (POSA). This is the third trial the women of WOZA will face, they won the last two. WOZA have called on Zimbabweans, and sympathisers abroad to assist in donating funds towards the 11 July 2005 trail. "Please help defend your mothers as we have helped defend our children. The liberations guns have indeed been turned against us."

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