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News update: 183 WOZA members arrested in Bulawayo
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
August 22, 2006

The final confirmed number of those arrested in Bulawayo yesterday is 183. It has been hard to keep track of the numbers as many people handed themselves in, in solidarity. 144 people are spending a second night in police custody - for the 93 in Bulawayo Central Police Station, this means spending the night outside in the courtyard locked into a cage even though the winter nights are still chilly. It is hoped that police may close their bar early to make way for the women.

The 13 mothers with babies and 26 minors reported back this morning and spent the day with the others at Central before being temporarily released again for the evening. As per today, they are expected to report back tomorrow morning. Disturbing reports have been received this evening of the fact that several minors were beaten on their knees by Law and Order officers at Central. The officers were trying to extract information regarding how WOZA mobilises and were not satisfied until the terrified youths 'confessed' to fabricated information. We are investigating further how many youths were involved and which officers were involved.

The young woman, Ephy Kumalo, who fell from the back of the police vehicle was finally located at Mzilikazi Police Station. She was finally released this evening and taken to see a doctor. She has a fractured arm and severe bruising from her fall and will need to spend the next month in plaster. It transpires that the police were well aware that the latch of the tailgate of the Land rover was faulty and one officer admitted that people should have been warned not to sit near the back of the vehicle. Of course with the extreme overcrowding in the vehicle at the time, it was unlikely that anyone could have heeded the caution even had they wished to!

The group have been charged under Section 37 (1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23. It is hoped that they will appear in court tomorrow morning. This charge could attract a level 10 fine (ZWD 2,000) or up to five years in custody.

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