Zimbabwe police must vacate WOZA premises immediately: High Court

A Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Nicolas Mathonis in his ruling restored full possession and occupation of the house to the militant, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and directed the police to immediately vacate the place.

Justice Nicolas Mathonis ordered the police to immediately vacate the offices of WOZA, which they forcibly occupied a fortnight ago on the 10th of June.

Police Commissioner-General, Augustine Chihuri, Chief Superintendent P.R Moyo, the Officer Commanding CID Law and Order Section at Bulawayo Central Police Station and the Officer In Charge CID Law and Order Section at Bulawayo Central Police Station were cited as respondents in the case.

Justice Mathonsi directed the respondents "to order and facilitate the immediate withdrawal of all police officers from the WOZA premises and the surrounding yard and not to remove anything from the house without due process".

Kossam Ncube of Kossam Ncube and Partners who represented WOZA made an urgent application to the court on 14 June after police had invaded the house, Ncube was seeking an order directing police authorities to "remove all police officers from the WOZA house and the surrounding yard with immediate effect and to bar the police from removing anything whatsoever from the house."