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Seven
charged and appear in court, granted bail with reporting conditions
Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
March 02, 2011
Fourteen people arrested
yesterday afternoon were released last night without charge.
Seven members,
3 women and 4 men arrested
on 28 February 2011 in two separate incidents in Entumbane and
Mabutweni today appeared in court and were granted bail on payment
of $50 each. Other conditions of bail included that they must report
to the Law and Order department of Bulawayo Central police station,
twice a week, Mondays and Fridays; surrender their travel documents;
not interfere with witnesses and reside at their given addresses.
They were charged
with C/S 37 (1) (a) (i) of the Criminal
Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23: "Acting
together with one or more other persons with him/her in any place
realizing that there is a real risk or possibility of disturbing
peace, security or order of the public".
They were represented
by Matshobana Ncube deployed by Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights. He argued that the state was ill-advised
to proceed with charges and cited a landmark Supreme
Court ruling obtained by WOZA leaders Jennifer Williams and
Magodonga Mahlangu from a 16
October 2008 arrest. Defence lawyer Ncube applied for charges
against the seven to be dropped when they next appear as the ruling
means the matter will not be successfully taken to trail. Ncube
also advised that all seven had been tortured in custody prompting
the magistrate to order the prosecutor to investigate this allegation.
The activists were assaulted by police officers and were also beaten
Falanga style, which is to beat someone on the soles of their feet
to try to prevent easy detection.
The seven were then ordered
to reappear in remand court on 16 March, they are now en route to
medical doctors.
The matter was heard
by Magistrate Rukweza and Jerry Mutsindikwa represented the state.
WOZA leaders would like
to acknowledge the magistrates for hearing this matter, as they
were about to go on strike for more pay. This is the sort of non-violent
action, WOZA activist are often arrested for. We wish them well
as they engage a government that could not care less that USD250
is hardly a living wage.
Visit
the WOZA fact
sheet
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