The women, many of them in the 60s, were released after after paying a fine on charges of “disorderly conduct in a public place” under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23].
Those arrested were members of the Women’s Coalition, an organization working for the equality of women. They were peacefully praying and protesting outside the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare as President Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara met with leaders from the SADC troika on Politics, Defence and Security to discuss the country’s power-sharing deal, which the protestors argue has been too slow in achieving any progress.
At least 30 people were also injured when the police used tear gas and batons to disperse protestors. The majority of those injured were women from the Women’s Coalition. Their injuries were consistent with being beaten with batons, falls during flight, teargas inhalation and other injuries.
One activist was admitted at a private clinic for observation after inhaling teargas and experiencing respiratory distress. Four others were admitted for severe injuries and suspected fractures.They were initially denied access to a lawyer. They only were able to speak with a lawyer for a couple of minutes as they were getting their lunch. Their colleagues were able to bring in food, sanitary pads and painkillers for the women, a spokesperson for the women rights group said.
Protestors from other organizations including student, youth and other human rights groups, were also beaten by the police with batons, exposed to tear gas and some had to receive medical treatment for their injuries.
Human rights organisation have roundly condemned the continued arbitrary arrest, detention and use of excessive force against peaceful protestors by police.
“Amnesty International also calls on the Southern African Development Community leaders to speak out against human rights violations and demand an end to the suppression of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression and association,” a spokesperson for the international rights group, Amnesty International, said .
Meanwhile, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, leaders of the activist organisation Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), are still in remand prison following their denial of bail by Bulawayo magistrate Charity Maphosa in connection with their arrest on October 16 . They are being held at Mlondolozi Prison, where conditions are said to fall well below international standards.
The two activists, described by Amnesty International as “prisoners of conscience”, were arbitrarily arrested after participating in a peaceful protest outside Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo, in which they were demanding access to food aid in Zimbabwe and the immediate formation of a new government.
Police used excessive force to break up the peaceful protest by about 200 WOZA activists. Mahlangu was beaten by police during her arrest and is reported to be in pain. They have lodged appeals against bail refusal with the High Court.Zimbabwe’s main opposition and human righst groups are calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
“Their arrest is part of the government of Zimbabwe’s clampdown on human rights defenders who are campaigning to highlight the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe,” said Amnesty.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said: “This is not in keeping with the spirit and letter of the power-sharing agreement. We demand their immediate and unconditional release.”
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