WUNRN
Please see 3 parts of this WUNRN
release on Crisis for Women Activists
in Zimbabwe, including picture. WOZA
= Women of Zimbabwe Arise.
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URGENT APPEAL - THE OBSERVATORY
October 27, 2008
ZIMBABWE
The
Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of
the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation
for Human Rights (FIDH), has received new information and requests your urgent
intervention in the following situation in Zimbabwe.
New
information:
The
Observatory has been informed by reliable sources that Ms. Jennifer Williams
and Ms. Magadonga Mahlangu, two leaders of Women of Zimbabwe Arise
(WOZA), were denied on bail today.
According to the information received, on October 27,
2008, Ms. Jennifer Williams and Ms. Magodonga Mahlangu were denied bail by the Bulawayo
Magistrate’s Court, which claimed that “it would not be in the best interests
of justice”. In particular, Magistrate Charity Maphosa
stated in her ruling that there were pending cases against the two. As such,
she maintained that they had not been honest when asked in court if they had
any pending cases against them.
However, as Ms. Jennifer Williams and Ms.
Magodonga Mahlangu were removed off remand following a Harare
Magistrate’s Court decision on October 15, 2008, they argued that all the cases
against them were no longer pending. Magistrate Maphosa went on, arguing that
as four cases with similar charges would reportedly be “pending” against the
two it was likely that they would commit similar offences again (even though
the section of the Criminal Procedures and Evidence Act that she quoted in her
ruling only refers to violent crimes, which the two have never been accused
of). She noted the political climate that is gripping the country and claimed
that in such a climate “people are easily excitable” and could be moved to
violence if they saw such a demonstration.
The defence intends to lodge an urgent appeal to the
High Court. Meanwhile, Ms. Williams and Ms. Mahlangu remain detained at the Mlondolozi Female Prison, where conditions of detention are terrible.
Cells are overcrowded and full of lice, food is extremely limited. Prisoners
receive only a small amount of sadza (maize) with green vegetable cooked in
water - no salt or any other form of nutrition. The lack of salt is
particularly worrying given the extreme heat being experienced at the moment.
Prison guards also routinely insult inmates.
The Observatory expresses its
deep concern about the arbitrary detention of Ms. Jennifer
Williams and Ms. Magadonga Mahlangu, as well as about the ongoing acts of
harassment against them and all WOZA/MOZA members. The Observatory further
recalls that according to Article 1 of the UN Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9,
1998, “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to
promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and
fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, and that
Article 6(c) of the Declaration provides that “everyone has the right,
individually and in association with others [...] to study, discuss, form and
hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means,
to draw public attention to those matters”.
Background
information:
On
October 16, 2008, WOZA organised a peaceful march through the streets of
Bulawayo in order to denounce the alarming economic and social situation and to
demand food for all Zimbabweans. This demonstration took
place as the political deadlock continues a month after the power-sharing
agreement was signed and the crisis facing people in their daily lives
deteriorates dramatically every day. WOZA was therefore demanding immediate
action regarding the formation of a new government that will begin to work on
solving urgent social issues, like food, electricity and water. Recognising
that the situation in the country is now a “national disaster”, they also demanded
that all Zimbabweans receive access to food aid and also seed and agricultural
inputs.
On
arrival at the Mhlahlandlela Government
Complex, the group of approximately 200 sat down outside the gates whilst a
delegation of four elderly women went in to request that the Regional
Department Heads of all the service departments come out and address the crowd
on what was being done to alleviate the humanitarian crisis facing the country.
The group sat peacefully for 45 minutes, waiting to be addressed, before five
riot police approached the group.
Ms.
Jennifer Williams and Ms. Magadonga Mahlangu were
then arrested and taken to Drill Hall. The rest of the group were forcibly
dispersed and beaten with baton sticks. At least one member is receiving
medical attention for the beating she received. Ms. Williams and Ms. Mahlangu
were later taken to Bulawayo Central Police Station, where they were currently
being held as of issuing this urgent appeal. No information could be obtained
regarding the charges against them, as their lawyers were denied access by the
Officer-in-Charge of the Law and Order Section in Bulawayo Central, Detective
Chief Inspector Ntini.
On October 17, 2008, Ms. Williams
and Ms. Mahlangu were remanded in custody until October 21, 2008 by the
Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court. They were charged for “disturbing the peace,
security or order of the public” under Section 37 1(a) of the Criminal Law
(Codification and Reform) Act. Ms. Williams and Ms. Mahlangu were denied bail
under the pretext that there would still be another outstanding case pending
against them[1][1]. Yet, as they had been removed off
remand following a Harare Magistrate’s Court decision on October 15, 2008, they
argue that their case is no longer pending. The Magistrate Maphosa allowed the
State time to verify this fact however, remanding the two in custody until
October 21.
On October 21, 2008, their bail hearing took place without them being
present, as the State alleged that there was no transport to take them to the
bail hearing. The court then decided to reserve its judgement on the bail
application until October 24, 2008.
Although
Magistrate Charity Maphosa was due to rule on the bail application of
Ms. Williams and Ms. Mahlangu on October 24, 2008, she delayed her judgement
until October 27 as she was “forced to attend a workshop instead”.
The Observatory further notes that Ms. Mahlangu suffers from the beatings she
received outside Mhlalandlela, reportedly inflicted from the Chief Inspector
called Mabhari.
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Amnesty International
WOZA Activists Detention Extended in
Zimbabwe
Women of
Zimbabwe Arise march through Bulawayo
©
Women of Zimbabwe Arise
22 October 2008
The detention of two activists from
the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) has been extended until Friday. A bail
hearing in the case was held on Tuesday without them being present, after the
state alleged that there was no transport available to take them to the court.
Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were arrested on 16 October and are being
held at Bulawayo Remand Prison. They were arbitrarily arrested after participating
in a peaceful protest outside Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo, in
which they demanded immediate access to food aid in Zimbabwe.
Police used excessive force to break up the peaceful protest by about 200 WOZA
activists. Magodonga Mahlangu was beaten by police during her arrest and
is reported to be in pain.
Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were unlawfully detained at Bulawayo
Central police station overnight before being moved to the remand prison on 17
October. The Magistrate Court in Bulawayo remanded the two women in custody
until Tuesday, when the bail hearing took place in their absence.
The court then reserved judgement on the bail application until Friday, 24
October. They have been charged under Section 37 1(a) of the Criminal Law
(Codification and Reform) Act – "disturbing the peace, security or order
of the public."
Amnesty International has urged the Zimbabwean authorities to release Jenni
Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, immediately and unconditionally, as they have
been detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of
association and assembly. The organisation warned that they are at risk of
torture and ill-treatment, considering the long history of ill-treatment of
human rights defenders while in custody in Zimbabwe.
"Human rights defenders in Zimbabwe have been repeatedly tortured,
ill-treated, harassed and intimidated while in custody," said Erwin van
der Borght, Director of Amnesty International's Africa Programme. "They
have also been denied access to their lawyers, families, adequate food, warm
blankets and medical care as well as sanitary products for women. WOZA
members have been ill-treated before while in custody.
"Amnesty International considers Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu to
be prisoners of conscience. Their arrest is part of the government of
Zimbabwe’s clampdown on human rights defenders who are campaigning to highlight
the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe."
Jenni Williams and Magadonga Mahlangu were last arrested in May 2008, and spent
37 days in remand prison.
______________________________________________________________________
AllAfrica.com
While Politicians Talk, Woza Women Beaten And Arrested
SW Radio Africa (London)
16 October 2008
By Violet Gonda
Power sharing talks between rival political parties are underway in Zimbabwe but there is no respite for human rights activists and journalists. Students were arrested and assaulted by police during demonstrations when parliament opened on Tuesday. Also this week state agents used repressive laws to unceremoniously throw out two journalists, Peta Thornycroft and Brian Hungwe, from the hotel where the political parties are meeting, saying they are not accredited under the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
On Thursday Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, the leaders of the
pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), were arrested during a
demonstration protesting the deteriorating situation and hardships being
suffered, while the political impasse continues. Some people were allegedly
beaten when the riot police used force to disperse the peaceful protesters.
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Group spokesperson Annie Sibanda said several women went to the police station in Bulawayo to hand themselves in, in solidarity with their leaders, but were turned away.
She said seven people were arrested before the demonstration started. The seven had been waiting for the others, near a group of foreign exchange traders but were arrested and taken to the police station where they were beaten, together with the forex traders.
As the day progressed the seven were released one by one, but Williams and Mahlangu remain in custody at Bulawayo Central police station. Sibanda said: "We don't have any details as to what charges they are facing as their lawyer has not been allowed access to them as yet."
Riot police had descended on the protesters as they were holding a peaceful sit-in at the Mhlahlandlela government complex in Bulawayo. The group were demanding to be addressed by the Heads of service delivery, about what is being done to address the humanitarian crisis that is affecting millions of Zimbabweans.
The latest incident exposes the fact that there is no fundamental change in the attitude of the Mugabe regime, even during the interparty talks being mediated by ex-South African President Thabo Mbeki. Ironically one of the main cabinet posts that the politicians are haggling over is the Home Affairs ministry that controls the police force.
The WOZA spokesperson said the deal is meaningless as there is no sign of its implementation on the ground. "The very reason that we were demonstrating today was because in the agreement they make reference to the humanitarian crisis, to the food crisis, to the welfare of Zimbabweans and yet absolutely nothing is being done to help people through this horrendous situation they find themselves in," Sibanda said.
She added: "People are dying, children are dying, electricity and water cuts are getting worse. People are getting beaten in food queues and some are not actually surprised that the police continue to arrest and beat people because we can see everyday that the deal is meaningless in the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans."
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