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Nine WOZA women arrested in Bulawayo
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
August 15, 2008

Nine women were arrested in Bulawayo on Wednesday night. They are being charged with 'malicious damage to property', a charge, which they are denying. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights are representing the women and hope they will appear in court on Saturday August 16.

Four of the younger members were seen 'road-writing' the WOZA 'love' slogan and the 'Woza Moya' (come healing wind) on a road in Mabutweni suburb of Bulawayo under cover of darkness. They were arrested and detained first at Western Commonage station before being transferred to the dirty police cells at Bulawayo Central. Police officers then threatened them and forced one to point out the homes of other leaders. A further five including two 75 year olds, were taken from their homes and detained. It is unclear why they are facing the same charges or why they were arrested.

WOZA wish to make it clear that the arrest of our members is a further violation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Zanu PF, and the 2 MDC parties as part of the SADC led Dialogue. It is further proof that Zanu PF may have called for an end to violence in word but no in deed. It is also our view that unless there is an audit and transformation of the police and army, there can be no healing and restoration of human rights in Zimbabwe. We will continue with our grafitti road writing our messages until the politicians hear us loud and clear.

WOZA leaders will march with South Africa labour and civic society on Saturday 16 August 2008 to deliver demands to SADC leaders. Once such demand is articulated in our slogan - Woza Moya which is written on many roads in Zimbabwe by WOZA members.

Nine WOZA members released; two face charges of criminal nuisance

ON Saturday 16th, police officers released the nine WOZA members who had been in detention since Wednesday night. Two members, Samukeliso Sibanda and Jema Gama, were asked to report to the police station this morning (Monday).

Upon arrival, the two were advised that they were to be charged with being a 'public nuisance' under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. They were then taken to the Magistrates Court where they appeared before Magistrate Charity Maphosa. The defence lawyer from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights advised that they plead guilty, which they did. The magistrate will deliver a ruling at 11:15 on Tuesday 19 August 2008. The charge normally carries a fine.

Whilst the two women appear in court on the 19th, WOZA will launch a report on the trauma experiences of its members in Johannesburg, South Africa, entitled 'Counting the Cost of Courage: Trauma Experiences of Women Human Rights Defenders in Zimbabwe'.

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