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Siege at the Rainbow
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
August 20, 2006

After a full week of harassment, Law and Order police officers finally managed to deliver summons on two key members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, yesterday. The summons were for them to appear on trial to answer charges for peaceful protests on 18 June 2004 and 16 June 2004 respectively. Mahlangu and three others face charges under the Public Order Security Act. The trial begins on Monday 21 August 2006 at Western Commonage Magistrates’ Court, Bulawayo. Advocate Perpetua Dube will defend the four women on trial.

Law and Order police officers staked out the home of Mahlangu hoping to catch her leaving for a Bulawayo Agenda Public Meeting. Meanwhile Mahlangu had left home earlier in the day. Another team of officers awaited Williams and Mahlangu at the Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel where Williams was due to speak at the public meeting.

Upon receiving news that Mahlangu’s young sister was under siege by eight officers, a lawyer was retained to accompany Mahlangu to Bulawayo Central Police station to collect the summons only to be redirected to the Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel where Officer Tshuma was waiting to serve summons on Williams. Mahlangu, in the company of Advocate Perpetua Dube, was served with a summons to appear on trial on Monday. Advocate Dube accepted a summons to court on 4th October 2006 on behalf of Williams.

63 Harare members are due to receive judgement on their trial at Rotten Row Magistrates Court on Monday
28 August 2006.

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