News / National
WOZA, MOZA activists launch anti-harassment campaign
12 Nov 2011 at 11:29hrs | Views
Zimbabwean pressure group, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) has launched a campaign to garner the sympathy of human rights fighters to write to The Deputy Commissioner General (Crime), Innocent Matibiri demanding that he stops harassing and arresting them.
Woza implored human rights fighters to express concern at the repeated arbitrary arrest, intimidation, harassment and ill-treatment of WOZA and MOZA activists by the police.
In a statement, WOZA said; "Write to the Deputy Commissioner General (Crime): Giving brief details of the cases outlined above and expressing concern at the repeated arbitrary arrest, intimidation, harassment and ill-treatment of WOZA and MOZA activists, calling on him to respect the right of WOZA and MOZA members to exercise their constitutionally and internationally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly."
Since February 2003, members of the women's rights organisation Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) have repeatedly been arrested while taking part in demonstrations to protest about the social, economic and human rights situation in Zimbabwe.
Many have been arbitrarily arrested and detained in appalling conditions. As a form of punishment for their activism, some of those held in police custody have been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment and denied access to medical care, food and lawyers.
On 10 May 2011, around 40 WOZA members were beaten by riot police during a protest against poor service and excessive electricity bills by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC). The beatings occurred after around 2,000 WOZA members had marched peacefully towards the offices of ZETDC, aiming to deliver "yellow cards" in protest.
On 28 February 2011, seven members of WOZA and its partner organization‚ Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA)‚ were arrested in Bulawayo. They were reportedly tortured at Bulawayo Central police station before being released on bail two days later, on the condition that they report to police twice a week. Meanwhile, 14 WOZA activists were arrested on 1 March during various meetings to discuss social issues in Bulawayo. They were released the same day without charge.
In September 2010, 83 WOZA and MOZA activists were arrested during a march to commemorate International Peace Day in Harare. In previous years, women have been arrested during events held on St. Valentine's Day and International Women's Day. On Zimbabwe's parliamentary election day in 2005, police arrested around 260 women, some carrying babies, for holding a peaceful post-election prayer vigil. Some were forced to lie on the ground and were beaten on the buttocks by police officers. The
women and children were detained overnight in an open-air courtyard, under armed guard, and had to pay a fine in order to be released.
The treatment of WOZA and MOZA members illustrates the Zimbabwean government's intolerance of peaceful public demonstrations expressing criticism of government policies. It also highlights the malicious use of the law, particularly the combination of the Public Order and Security Act and the Miscellaneous Offences Act, to allow for arbitrary arrests and detentions and to facilitate a range of other human rights violations by the police.
Woza implored human rights fighters to express concern at the repeated arbitrary arrest, intimidation, harassment and ill-treatment of WOZA and MOZA activists by the police.
In a statement, WOZA said; "Write to the Deputy Commissioner General (Crime): Giving brief details of the cases outlined above and expressing concern at the repeated arbitrary arrest, intimidation, harassment and ill-treatment of WOZA and MOZA activists, calling on him to respect the right of WOZA and MOZA members to exercise their constitutionally and internationally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly."
Since February 2003, members of the women's rights organisation Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) have repeatedly been arrested while taking part in demonstrations to protest about the social, economic and human rights situation in Zimbabwe.
Many have been arbitrarily arrested and detained in appalling conditions. As a form of punishment for their activism, some of those held in police custody have been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment and denied access to medical care, food and lawyers.
On 28 February 2011, seven members of WOZA and its partner organization‚ Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA)‚ were arrested in Bulawayo. They were reportedly tortured at Bulawayo Central police station before being released on bail two days later, on the condition that they report to police twice a week. Meanwhile, 14 WOZA activists were arrested on 1 March during various meetings to discuss social issues in Bulawayo. They were released the same day without charge.
In September 2010, 83 WOZA and MOZA activists were arrested during a march to commemorate International Peace Day in Harare. In previous years, women have been arrested during events held on St. Valentine's Day and International Women's Day. On Zimbabwe's parliamentary election day in 2005, police arrested around 260 women, some carrying babies, for holding a peaceful post-election prayer vigil. Some were forced to lie on the ground and were beaten on the buttocks by police officers. The
women and children were detained overnight in an open-air courtyard, under armed guard, and had to pay a fine in order to be released.
The treatment of WOZA and MOZA members illustrates the Zimbabwean government's intolerance of peaceful public demonstrations expressing criticism of government policies. It also highlights the malicious use of the law, particularly the combination of the Public Order and Security Act and the Miscellaneous Offences Act, to allow for arbitrary arrests and detentions and to facilitate a range of other human rights violations by the police.
Source - ZimbaNews
