Zim armed police arrest 10 peaceful protesters (06-06-07)

onfiscating pamphlets which were to be distributed during the march.

The ten activists were arrested by heavily armed police before the start of the silent march in Bulawayo. WOZA and MOZA in a statement said the silent march was meant to launch ten steps to a New Zimbabwe.

Bulawayo police spokesperson, Inspector Shepherd Sibanda could not be reached for comment. However, the intended march comes amid a police ban on opposition rallies and protests in the country under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

According to WOZA and MOZA the objective of the march was to highlight ‘the unfairness of talks that only involve politicians who will not be addressing issues of social justice’

“The silent march is also to pressure for the inclusion of voices at the negotiating table that will raise socio-economic issues at the heart of the ordinary Zimbabweans,’ said WOZA and MOZA in a statement released yesterday.

Members of the Zimbabwean civic society have also cried for inclusion in the mediation talks between the ruling Zanu-PF party and the splintered opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

South African president, Thabo Mbeki was appointed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to mediate on talks which among other things seek to bring the political parties to agree on terms of holding free and fair elections- CAJ News.