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Two court appearances and an arrest
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
March 23, 2012

On Thursday 22 March 2012, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) Leaders Jennifer Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu appeared before Magistrate Godwin Sengweni facing Kidnap and Theft charges. Defence lawyer Kossam Ncube produced a High Court order to 'stay all criminal proceedings' in Regional Court A and applied for the two activists to be removed off remand appearances in Court pending the outcome of the Review of the Magistrates decision to refuse to discharge Williams and Mahlangu at close of state case.

As has now become a bad habit the state opposed the application and Magistrate Sengweni remanded to activist to 26 April 2012 when he will give a ruling on if they are to be removed off remand.

On Friday 23 March 2012 Jennifer Williams and 9 other members arrested on 7 February 2012 in Bulawayo and charged with 'Criminal Nuisance' appeared in court 1. Their lawyer Lizwe Jamela, Chief Law officer of ZLHR, submitted an application to take a challenge to the Supreme Court. The Prosecutor and Magistrate will respond on 27 April 2012.

This Supreme Court application is in response to the State insistence on charging the activists with peaceful protest related laws when there is a landmark ruling won by Williams and Mahlangu for their right to protest to be unhindered. This landmark ruling has been successfully used by scores of activists but the Williams and Mahlangu cannot seem to enjoy it as a legal precedent.

On the 22nd March, Riot Police surrounded the Tredgold Magistrates court monitoring closely the movement of WOZA leaders and members. Seven police officers chased anyone standing close to the activists so as to isolate them and scrutinise their movement. They even chased away a mother breastfeeding her baby on the pavement outside the court.

When the 2 members walked across the road to meet another member, 2 Riot police followed them and searched them. One member was found with a WOZA branded scarf - standing up for my rights - which was immediately judged to be seditious and she was surrounded by 4 officers who held onto her clothing and marched her for one city block until a back up vehicle with a truck load of Riot Police arrived to pick her up and took her to Bulawayo Central police station. She was advised that she would be detained but two minutes later Mr. Jamela of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) arrived the Law and Order plain clothed police officers indicated that she was not under arrested but was merely picked up for profiling (personal details and affiliations). She was questioned about a 'proposed' demonstration later that day. However WOZA was not planning a protest so she replied that she knew of no such demonstration only Court appearances. She was then released.

WOZA wish to warn the Police that the public outcry surrounding the searching and arrest our young member should send a strong message that members of the public are getting irritated with the constant presence of Riot Police in the street conducting arbitrary searches and chasing people standing in groups away from the city centre. Zimbabweans patience with the military-style policing is wearing thin!

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