WOZA leaders. Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, appeared in Bulawayo Magistrate's Court again this morning after their case was postponed from yesterday. They were once again remanded out of custody to 7 December 2009. Attempts by defence lawyer, Kossam Ncube to have the pair removed off remand were unsuccessful as the prosecutor stated that the case is too controversial to allow for that. He reluctantly agreed to a long remand to allow for the written ruling from the Supreme Court to be received. The Supreme Court had given a verbal ruling on 4th June that their arrest had been unlawful but is yet to provide a written ruling to that effect.

Tomorrow marks one year since the 16 October 2008 arrest of the pair following a peaceful demonstration calling on the government to provide food aid for all. They spent three weeks in Mlondolozi Prison just outside of Bulawayo before being released on bail. They have appeared in court on numerous occasions during the year. This ongoing demonstration of state harassment and intimidation against the human rights defenders is further proof of how little has changed for pro-democracy activists in Zimbabwe.

Visit the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) fact sheet

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