Women’s Coalition dressed in black and white

Some 600 female protesters from pressure group Women’s Coalition dressed in black and white had gathered outside the Rainbow Towers in central Harare, where they were vowing they would not leave until the main political principals agree to establish a new government before the police arrived.

More were detained as they got off buses and made their way to the Rainbow Towers where regional leaders had just gathered for talks to break a political deadlock over the division of Cabinet and governorship posts between the MDC and Zanu (PF) following the signing of a power-sharing agreement seven weeks ago.   

The police had refused to authorise the demonstration under tough security laws although the power-sharing agreement contained implicit guarantees of peaceful political activity and freedoms of association and expression without State interference.

The women were marching for an end to hunger, the dollarisation of the economy, the general economic collapse and a return to the spirit of love and peace. They said the black on their outfits signified hardships and white was for hope and peace.

On Monday, police also violently broke a march by pressure groups Restoration for Human Rights and students union, ZINASU, who were also demanding the immediate formation of a new government saying the talks had dragged on for too long amid worsening poverty.

Police used tear gas and fired live ammunition in the air and reportedly beat one elderly shopper across the face as they attempted to subdue the protests.

Political tension has risen in Zimbabwe in recent weeks because of mounting anxiety over the delay in constituting the new government.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, set to become Prime Minister if a power-sharing government takes office – says he will not be bullied into an administration in which he will have little authority. He accuses President Mugabe of trying to make him a junior partner with control over less important ministries.

The police said that the women’s protest would disrupt traffic and could be “hijacked” by political groups. The road leading to the Rainbow Towers was blocked by baton-wielding police officers.

The women had gathered outside the hotel where new South Africa President Kgalema Motlanthe and his predecessor Thabo Mbeki together with the leaders of Swaziland, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo were meeting President Mugabe, Tsvangirai and the leader of a smaller MDC faction, Prof Arthur Mutambara threatening to lock down the leaders until there is deal.

The women waved placards written tafa nenzara, hatina maUS dollars in reference to the dollarisation of the economy. Other placards read we don’t eat empty promises.

Among the women activists arrested was Netsai Mushonga, a bra-burning feminist who is also national coordinator for Women’s Coalition.

Zimbabweans see the talks as the last vestige of hope for a crisis-torn nation reeling from unprecedented economic hardships.  Shortages of food, fuel, power and cash are worsening and the Zimdollar is fast ceasing to be an instruments of trade because of rapidly weakening value. International financiers, Western and regional governments have warned of dire consequences if the deal flops.

The European Union has threatened to extend a travel ban on the Zimbabwe leadership if Mugabe reneges on the deal. The US is also set to decide whether to extend Zimbabwe’s sanctions regime, depending on how the talks go.

Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in a presidential election on March 29 but by too few votes to avoid a run-off in June, which Mugabe won unopposed after Tsvangirai pulled out, saying his supporters had been subjected to violence and intimidation.

Around half of the population – five million people – need food aid and the agricultural disruption caused by Mugabe’s land grab is set to see another disastrous agricultural season.