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All News items from Zimbabwe
On 13 May 2008, Charles Thole and James Mushayi were reportedly abducted by ZANU PF supporters in Kotwa, Mudzi. They were held hostage and reportedly tortured at a ZANU PF base at the Muzezuru Primary School before being freed with the help of a lawyer and members of the police. MP elect for Mudzi North, Newten Kapecha, is suspected of having instigated the torture. He also reportedly confiscated the accreditation cards and ZESN t-shirts of eight other ZESN observers. 
Amnesty International has just received information that at about 10am (local time), five police officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) raided the offices of the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) in Harare.
Amnesty International claims that female demonstrators can be subjected to arbitrary arrest, beatings and in some cases torture in police custody. The human rights group, which interviewed dozens of activists, urged the country's authorities to "stamp out any discrimination against women". Zimbabwe is in the grip of a severe economic crisis. Shops are running out of even the most basic items and inflation is approaching 5,000%.
Front Line is deeply concerned following the abduction and torture of human rights defenders and student activists, Beloved Chiweshe and Munjodzi Mutandiri, on 26 June 2007
Women of Zimbabwe Arise suffer further violence as part of ongoing pattern of harassment. Charges have been brought against the seven members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), including Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, who had been arrested on 6 June 2007 in Bulawayo. They were all subject to ill-treatment while in detention. Take action on behalf women human rights defenders in Zimbabwe
Front Line is extremely concerned to hear that both Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu are to be transferred to Harare today, Friday 8 June 2007 and that both women have been threatened with torture by members of the police. The two women have not been charged and have not been fingerprinted. They have been refused access to their lawyers. The five other detained members of WOZA were released today, Friday 8 June 2007.
Seven women human rights defenders including Jenni Williams, Magodonga Mahlangu, Angeline Kururu and Rosemary Sizada of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were arrested on 6 June 2007 and detained in Bulawayo Central Police Station.
In Zimbabwe Human rights lawyers and their families have faced a surge in violent harassment, including arbitrary arrests, detention and violent physical assaults during April and May 2007.
The youth activist, Gift Tandare was shot dead in Harare's Highfield township on 11 March 2007 as riot police arrested at least seventy people including four prominent human rights defenders while attempting to attend a Save Zimbabwe Campaign prayer meeting.
Gift Tandare is the youth Chairperson of the National Constitutional Assembly.The 4 human rights defenders are, Mike Davies - Chairperson of the Combined Harare residents association, Madock Chivasa - Spokesperson for the National Constitutional Assembly, Dr Lovemore Madhuku, member of the National Constitutional Assembly and Gladys Hlatsawo, Information officer for the Crisis Coalition.
The US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, presented the 2007 International Women of Courage Award to ten women including several human rights defenders at a ceremony in the US State Department on 7 March 2007. The award was established to recognize women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and advancement. The Department will honor the following 10 women:
Africa Ms. Jennifer Louise Williams – Zimbabwe
East Asia/Pacific Dr. Siti Musdah Mulia - Indonesia
Europe Ms. Ilze Jaunalksne - Latvia
Near East Dr. Samia al-Amoudi - Saudi Arabia
South and Central Asia Ms. Mariya Ahmed Didi - Maldives
Western Hemisphere Ms. Susana Trimarco de Veron – Argentina
Afghanistan and Iraq Ms. Mary Akrami - Afghanistan
Ms. Aziza Siddiqui - Afghanistan
Dr. Sundus Abbas - Iraq
Ms. Shatha Abdul Razzak Abbousi - Iraq
Over 200 members of WOZA, MOZA and student leaders arrested while participating in a peaceful protest to mark WOZA’s fifth Valentine’s procession were finally released on 15 February 2007.
Members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA) were participating in a demonstration that took place a day before Valentine’s Day on 14 February 2007, when the WOZA women traditionally hold the Valentine's Day procession. It is reported that there was approximately 274 men and women and 20 babies arrested and detained in police custody. The protesters were being held in 7 different police stations: Bulawayo Central, Mziliazi, Donnington, Hillside, Nkulumane, Queens Park and Sauerstown. On the same day, state security and the law and order section at the Harare Police Central Police station arrested and detained 15 student leaders at the Harare Polytechnic including, Promise Mkwanazi, President of the Zimbabwe National Students Union. The student leaders were holding a peaceful protest about the deteriorating situation of higher education in Zimbabwe.
16 FEBRUARY 2007
PRESS STATEMENT
CONTINUED HARASSMENT OF WORKERS, STUDENTS, WOMEN ACTIVISTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) wishes to express its concern and condemn the on-going harassment of human rights defenders and Zimbabweans through widespread and indiscriminate arrests and detention of individuals and members of legally recognized non-governmental organizations for exercising their constitutionally guaranteed and recognized fundamental rights and freedoms, namely of expression, association and assembly. This week has been characterized by an unprecedented number of arrests and detention of human rights defenders and activists on spurious grounds. Student Leaders, Harare
On 13 February, 2007 eleven (11) student leaders from Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) were arrested at Harare Polytechnic where they were attempting to hold peaceful consultative meetings with their constituency. The students were detained at Harare Central Police, under the Law and Order Section.
Front Line is extremely concerned for the safety of a large number of human rights defenders and protesters, all members of WOZA, MOZA and student leaders who were arrested on 13 February 2007 during peaceful protest marches.
Members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA) were arrested while peacefully protesting in Harare and Bulawayo on 13 February 2007, to mark WOZA’s fifth Valentine’s Day procession. The peaceful protest took place a day before Valentine’s Day on 14 February 2007, when the WOZA women traditionally hold the Valentine's Day procession.
It is reported that there was approximately 274 men and women and 20 babies arrested and detained in police custody. The protesters are being held in 7 different police stations, Bulawayo Central, Mziliazi, Donnington, Hillside, Nkulumane, Queens Park and Sauerstown.
On 14 February 2007, 36 members were released, which included mothers with babies, juveniles, pregnant women, and one injured woman.
Riot police brutally quashed a protest organised by the National Constitutional Assembly in Harare on 1 November against the prevailing political, social and economic conditions in Zimbabwe. Scores of protesters sustained injuries following the use of force by police to disperse the protests and three leading human rights defenders were arrested at the event.
Dr. Lovemore Madhuku, Frank Nyagumbo and Marko Shoko, members of the National Constitutional Assembly, were arrested at the protest for their alleged involvement in stoning a police van. These allegations were subsequently dropped due to lack of evidence. Dr. Lovemore Madhuku may be charged with violation of the Public Order and Security Act, for reportedly failing to notify relevant authorities of the protest. Dr. Lovemore Madhuku, Frank Nyagumbo and Marko Shoko are currently being detained at Harare Central Police Station.
The National Constitutional Assembly is a non-governmental organisation established in 1997, to campaign for constitutional reform in Zimbabwe.
On 25 October, five members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were arrested following a peaceful march to protest against the illegal eviction of more than 60 residents in a housing premise in Bulawayo. Faina Maphosa, Maria Moyo, Samkeliso Sibanda, Senie Dube and Thalitha Mtendesi are the most recent human rights defenders to bear the brunt of the Zimbabwean governments intense crackdown on dissidents.
Reports claim that the women marched into the housing premise and distributed leaflets highlighting their grievances with the Zimbabwean authorities. The women were allegedly harassed by officers and subjected to degrading treatment whilst spending the night at Mzilikazi and Sauerstown police stations. The women were released on bail on 27 October 2006. They are due to appear in court on 10 November charged under Chapter 46, Section 2, (v) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The charges have been dropped against Maria Moyo.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum published on 29 September the Political Violence Report for August. The report highlights an escalation in violence by Zimbabwean authorities against human rights defenders.
The report outlines the arrest and detention of members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). The full Report is available here.
One hundred and one members of WOZA face trial on 23 October for ‘participating in a public gathering with the intent to cause public disorder, breach of peace or bigotry’. If convicted, the women could receive up to five years in custody or a heavy fine. About 150 WOZA members face similar charges for participation in a demonstration in August and stand trial on 10 of October.
On 13 September 2006,180 members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) were arrested in Zimbabwe prior to the commencement of an anti-poverty and anti-government March. Many of those arrested were tortured.
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