SCORES of activists from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) yesterday besieged Bulawayo Central Police Station demanding the release of their colleagues who had been arrested during a demonstration in the city centre.
Report by Blondie Ndebele
The group staged protests calling on the inclusive government to ensure that the referendum on the draft constitution — set for March 16— is credible and “that the people be afforded a free and fair framework to exercise their choice”.
More than a dozen protesters were arrested while demonstrating in front of police offices at Southampton Building in the city centre. They were bundled into a police truck before being taken to Bulawayo Central Police Station.
However, the Woza activists, led by Jennie Williams, followed the truck to the station chanting slogans and singing songs demanding the release of their colleagues.
Some of the protesters went into the police station and briefly staged a sit-in, protesting the arrest of their colleagues. It is understood that some of those who were arrested were released, but it could not be ascertained at the time of going to print if there were others who were still detained.
In an interview, Williams alleged that they were beaten while in custody, but some seniors police officers gave instructions for them to be released.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International yesterday condemned the arrest of Woza leaders in Harare on Monday during a march at Parliament. The women, who included Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, were arrested after police fired teargas at the peaceful demonstrators and beat them with baton sticks.
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Police also arrested a man who took pictures of the women being arrested.
“This most recent incident sounds yet another alarm bell for the exercise of internationally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly in advance of the referendum on a new constitution and elections later this year,” Amnesty International’s southern Africa director Noel Kututwa said in a statement.
“Human rights violations by the police, including arbitrary arrests and raids at offices of human rights defenders, go against the calls for tolerance made by President (Robert) Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai.”
