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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Index of articles on WOZA Valentine's Day arrests 2006
Free
at last
Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
February 17, 2006
After spending over
72 hours in custody, 63 WOZA women, part of 242 arrested in Harare on
Valentine's Day, who had braved deplorable conditions, intimidation, refusal
of food and water, appeared before Magistrate Takavadiyi at 3:30pm, Friday
17 February 2006. They were granted free bail but will appear for a further
remand hearing on 3rd March. One woman described their treatment by saying
"we were treated worse than dogs - you do not make a dog sleep on
human waste"! This morning police had to summon an ambulance for
a woman who could not be revived after fainting. She has been hospitalised
and was not able to appear in court.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for
Human Rights had to make a High Court application to secure the release
of the women who refused to pay admission of guilt fines and submit to
"the standard hostage tactics of the police" but were demanding
their right to be brought to court. In an urgent chamber application,
lawyers, Irene Petras and Tafadzwa Mugabe alleged that that they were
obstructed from gaining access to their clients who were being held in
'cruel, inhuman and degrading conditions' and were under extreme pressure
to pay Admission of Guilt fines to purchase their freedom.
The application also
referred to the illegal holding of the women by Detective Inspector Rangwani,
who used "psychological pressure" and dirty tactics to force
them to pay fines, including threatening to detain them until Monday 20th
February if they insisted on going to court. The application stated, "These
threats, in effect meant that those with the money were being extorted
of their cash in exchange for their liberty as they are extreme pressure
to pay or face further detention". The application goes on to mention
that this behaviour "is part and parcel of the harassment of human
rights defenders that has been orchestrated with impunity by the police."
The matter of those
that paid the fines is still subject to challenge as those who did so
paid them under protest.
The leaders of Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) salute the courage of all the 420 women, 19 babies
and seven men who were arrested for demanding bread and roses for all,
thereby exposing the cruel and vicious behaviour of this regime toward
citizens it is supposed to protect and serve.
WOZA would also like
to thank the uniformed forces who bravely offered encouragement and support
to all the human right defenders whilst in detention. We call on those
who overzealously defend a regime that cares little for them, including
Officers Mhondoro, Martin Matira, George Levison Ngwenya and Detective
Inspector Rangwani, to show compassion for those fighting for the rights
of all Zimbabweans, including theirs.
WOZA declares a victory
for all freedom-loving Zimbabweans. This week WOZA broke through the fear
barrier; anyone watching the processions in Bulawayo and Harare will tell
you of smiling and singing people who were enjoying liberating the streets.
We hope this example of non-violent activism will encourage more Zimbabweans
to be prepared to sacrifice their liberty in order to gain their freedom.
WOZA will be marching in a street near you soon - get ready to join in
the fun!
Visit
the WOZA fact
sheet
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