WOZA demonstrators arrested

ABOUT forty Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) members were arrested Friday morning following a peaceful demonstration in commemoration of Women Human Rights Defenders Day at Mhlanhlandlela government complex in Bulawayo, Radio Dialogue reported.

Women Human Rights Defenders is celebrated on 29 November as part of the 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence.

The activists who were arrested include WOZA leaders Jenny Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu and were taken to Drill Hall police station while others were trucked to Bulawayo Central Police station.

During the demonstration, the WOZA women were calling for Zimbabweans to beat the drum of peace and development to break the silence on violence.

In a statement, Williams said her organisation was looking beyond the sphere of violence to consider the position of women in society which perpetrates systematic violence and socio-economic disadvantage.

"WOZA women also call themselves human rights defenders and as we march this year, we salute the kind and brave people of Zimbabwe. We pray that their peaceful nature will be one day rewarded with a Zimbabwe we can all be proud of - a Zimbabwe without violence," said Williams.

In her brief address to demonstrators, Williams said they will push hard to press authorities to ensure that violence against women is done away with for good.

When the demonstration kicked off, police intercepted them before they could march to Mhlanhlandlela and chased them with batons.

Moments later a bigger group of demonstrators gathered in front of the Bulawayo Registry offices, who were later joined by yet another group.

They then marched to Mhlanhlandlela where they got the main gate locked with police manning it.

After 20 minutes of demonstration, 5 policemen took Williams to Drill Hall, adjacent to Mhlanhlandlela. Riot police then dispersed demonstrators using batons