Mounting repression of Zimbabwean human rights defenders - WOZA members, October 2004
WOZA 49 IN CUSTODY 4 HANDING IN PETITION – NOW 43 TO ONE CELL APPARENTLY POLICE HAVE ORDERS TO DO SO! THANK GOD 2 YR OLD WITH MOTHER IN ANOTHER CELL! 23:37 6-OCT-04 Text message from WOZA member
Women human rights defenders in Zimbabwe have been detained repeatedly over the last two weeks for exercising their right to peaceful protest. Members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) have been arrested on three occasions as they protested against the proposed NGO Bill, which bans NGOs working in human rights and criminalizes foreign donations. At least 52 WOZA members have reportedly been charged under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
WOZA began a march from Bulawayo to Harare in protest against the NGO Bill on Sunday 19th September. They had walked 250 miles from Bulawayo when 48 women were arrested on Tuesday 28th September near Chegutu, 100 kilometers from Harare.
On Thursday 30th four other WOZA members involved in the march were arrested. Police searched a number of their homes. Both groups of women were released on Friday 1st October 2004, however, four women have been charged under Article 24 of POSA and are scheduled to appear in Court on 13th October 2004.
On 5th October 2004 a further 49 WOZA members were arrested outside the parliament building in Central Harare after they had presented a petition against the proposed NGO bill. The women were reportedly held in police custody for 48 hours with 43 women forced to share a single cell. A mother and two year old child were amongst those detained. The women were charged under POSA and were released on 7th October 2004.
Since 2002, the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) has been increasingly used by the authorities to target human rights defenders and restrict freedom of association and expression. WOZA human rights defenders have been repeatedly targeted. In June 2003, more than 100 members were arrested during a number of peaceful public actions as well as while attending private meetings.
Front Line is calling on the Zimbabwean authorities to cease the harassment of members of WOZA so that they may continue to carry out their legitimate human rights work and practice their right to freedom of opinion and expression, as enshrined in articles 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, without fear of reprisal. Front Line also calls on the authorities to withdraw the Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) Bill as this Bill does not allow for the rights of freedom of expression, association and assembly as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) members embarked upon a 440-kilometer walk from Bulawayo to Harare on Sunday 19 September 2004. The walkers are protesting against the proposed NGO Bill which is designed to restrict the independence of NGOs, particularly with regard to their legitimate and invaluable human rights work (see Front Line press release: “Proposed new Zimbabwean Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Bill does not conform with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders” August 2004). Read more about the WOZA walk at: Uthinte Umfazi Uthinte Imbokodo!