ed and therefore the group will
not be taken to court today.
Two of the members in custody were badly beaten during
their arrest and are in a lot of pain. As the lawyer
has been denied access to them, they have not received
any medical treatment. Food has also been denied this
lunchtime, although there were no problems taking in
food at breakfast or dinner last night.
At least 20 members have sought medical attention for
the beatings they received yesterday. Most injuries
involve soft-tissue bruising; no severe injuries have
been reported as yet. Many of these members have
testified that as they were being beaten, police were
telling them that police do not want to arrest WOZA
members any more as they are too troublesome. It is
their intention to ‘just beat them’.
More details will be made available as they emerge.
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News update
Wednesday 6th June – 6pm
Seven WOZA members remain in custody
Seven WOZA members remain in custody in Bulawayo
tonight. Reports that 20 members were arrested were
inaccurate as the women seen entering Bulawayo Central
Police Station were not WOZA members. The members that
remain in Bulawayo Central are all women, including
Jenni Williams, Magodonga Mahlangu, Angeline Karuru
and Rosemary Siziba.
The lawyers in attendance have seen the group but
police are refusing to discuss possible charges at
this stage. Although the five arrested at the scene of
the demonstration were all beaten during their arrest,
the extent of their injuries is not clear. Food has
been allowed in this evening.
Seven members have been treated for injuries they
received from beatings but we are still waiting for
reports on their injuries.
It also appears that in the immediate aftermath of the
demonstrations, a police van was seen driving around
central Bulawayo with a loudhailer telling citizens
not to pick up the WOZA flyers and placards. This is
particularly interesting as a group of approximately
20 riot police were seen avidly reading the placards
and flyers left by the demonstrators.
Concerns remain for the welfare of those in custody,
particularly in the current state of repression and in
the light of the threats made against Williams and
Mahlangu by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Please call Bulawayo Central on +263 9 72515 / 61706
to remind them that the world is watching.
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Breaking news from WOZA (photos available on request)
WOZA members arrested in Bulawayo today
Approximately 20 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe
Arise (WOZA/MOZA) were arrested in Bulawayo today.
Amongst those arrested are Jenni Williams and
Magodonga Mahlangu, who handed themselves in at
Bulawayo Central in solidarity with a group that had
been arrested earlier.
Members of WOZA and MOZA had conducted a peaceful,
silent march through Bulawayo to launch their ’10
Steps to a New Zimbabwe’, a position on the current
talks. Two groups had started at different locations
but were both marching towards the offices of The
Chronicle, a government-owned newspaper. One group was
met by riot police after one block and was beaten and
dispersed. The other group managed to march for two
blocks before again being met by riot police and
beaten. A group of 15-20 was arrested and walked to
Bulawayo Central Police Station.
Hearing of the arrests, the rest of the demonstrators
regrouped, marched to Bulawayo Central and tried to
hand themselves in. Police refused them entrance,
grabbing only Williams and Mahlangu. When the rest of
the group tried to follow them into the station,
police at the gates began to viciously beat people to
disperse them.
Several people are already receiving medical attention
for the beatings they received. It is not clear if any
of those arrested require medical attention. Human
rights lawyers are in attendance.
WOZA had marched today to highlight the unfairness of
talks that only involve politicians who will be not be
addressing issues of social justice – the ‘Bread and
Roses’ Zimbabweans need. It was also to pressure for
the inclusion of voices at the negotiating table that
will raise socio-economic issues – issues at the heart
of ordinary Zimbabweans. Please see below for WOZA’s
’10 steps to a new Zimbabwe’ and for the nonviolent
guidelines that WOZA always operates under.
More news will be made available as details emerge.
Post published in: News