WOZA leaders arrested in Bulawayo

Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) leaders, Jenni Williams and Magondonga Mahlangu were on Friday arrested in Bulawayo for conducting peaceful demonstrations, demanding service delivery from the new Zanu (PF) government.

Mahlangu and Williams being bundled in police vehicle
Mahlangu and Williams being bundled in police vehicle

Mahlangu and Williams were also arrested in Harare on Thursday for conducting similar peaceful demonstrations outside parliament building.

More than 500 members of the group holding banners and placards converged at the Chronicle offices chanting WOZA slogans and singing.

About 20 minutes after the demonstrations police in riot gear unsessufuly tried to disperse the swelling group.

When the riot police tried to use force to disperse the group, the women led by Williams and Mahlangu remain seated while singing the song Kasifuni imbokodo (we do not want button sticks).

WOZA Women demonstrating in Bulawayo
WOZA Women demonstrating in Bulawayo

Releasing that they were losing the battle, the riot police called for more reinforcement which resulted the arrest of the two leaders.

The leaders were bundled in a Nissan twin cab and taken to the Central police station. Soon after their arrest the demonstrators followed the truck to the police station. The demonstrators demands included local government demands such as improving availability of water, swift response to sewerage burst and blockages, provision of hawkers' licences and affordable vendor licence fees to vendors and repair of community structures.

They also had 12 more demands for the new government which included accountability during empowerment programme, jobs and economy recovery.

Post published in: News
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  1. Bernadette

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