Zimbabwe: Beatings and arrests of members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)

Front Line is concerned following reports that members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were beaten and arrested on 25 February 2009 in Harare. WOZA is a non-governmental organisation working for the advancement of women's rights. WOZA is currently leading a campaign called 'Take the Step' to encourage social participation in Zimbabwe.

Further Information

As part of this campaign, WOZA had planned to petition the new Minister of Education for Zimbabwe, Senator David Coltart, about the right to education and to organise a public demonstration in front of the Ministry on 25 February 2009.

That day, when a crowd of approximately 450 petitioners gathered outside the Ministry of Education in Harare, riot police violently disrupted the protest. While the WOZA leaders were attempting to deliver their petition to Senator David Coltart, riot police began to beat the peaceful crowd waiting outside. The petitioners had made an official appointment with the Minister but he was reportedly delayed at an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister. The petitioners were temporarily left in peace by the riot police after the beatings had begun. However, when additional riot police arrived in a police vehicle, the beatings were resumed and intensified when a second police vehicle arrived and more riot police got out, banging their shields and singing “today we are going to beat you”. They later began to sing “why are your husbands allowing you to demonstrate?”. At least 10 members of WOZA were arrested. Four women and one man were reportedly detained overnight in Harare Central Police Station. Their lawyers, who are members of non-governmental organisation Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, have not been allowed access to them.

Nine members of WOZA were also treated for injuries, mostly involving deep tissue bruising from baton sticks. One man was beaten in the genitals, a woman's toe was fractured after it was stamped on by a police officer wearing boots, and one woman could not walk after being beaten. She had been trying to protect her seven-month-old baby, but was beaten so badly that she sustained a serious injury to her knee and an ambulance had to be called. After being discharged she still could not walk and had to be carried home.

When Senator David Coltart arrived, he expressed his sorrow at the beatings and arrests, stating that he would do everything he could to ensure education for children in Zimbabwe.

Front Line believes that the beatings and arrests of WOZA members are directly related to their work in the defence of human rights, in particular their work to defend the right to education. Front Line sees this as part of an ongoing trend of harassment against human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. Front Line is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the WOZA members who were beaten during the demonstration.