Five weeks ago, Zanu PF and both MDC’s signed an agreement “on resolving the challenges facing Zimbabwe” They signed that they were “committing ourselves to putting our people and our country first by arresting the fall in living standards and reversing the decline of our economy.” But where is this commitment in action? As the politicians argue about passports and summit venues, hunger is increasing in Zimbabwe, and those men and women brave enough to protest this are being denied their rights.

One week after leading a peaceful demonstration in Bulawayo, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu remain in custody. These two, and seven other members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), were arrested as part of a protest of hundred of men and women on Thursday 16 October, demanding food aid for millions of starving Zimbabweans.

The other seven members were released later that same day, but Williams and Mahlangu were charged under Section 37 1(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act – ‘disturbing the peace, security or order of the public’. In pressing the state to deny the two bail, prosecuter Chifamba argued that there was still an outstanding case pending. Chifamba was referring to the May 28 arrest of the Chikurubi 14. But the group had been removed from remand on Wednesday 15 October – so the prosecuter’s argument to deny bail should have fallen away.

Instead, the Magistrate, Maphosa, gave the state until 21 October to verify this fact. When Williams and Mahlangu went back before the Court on the 21st, Magistrate Maphosa reserved judgement as the ‘court is very busy’. In Zimbabwe, bail hearings are normally heard on an urgent basis. But not for these WOZA women. All this despite the 15 September political agreement. As the WOZA update from last night says, “the on-going detention of Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu and the delaying tactics and machinations of the state are a clear violation of their rights and the power-sharing agreement signed by the political parties in September 2008.”

Register your discontent. Phone the Bulawayo Attorney General’s Office: +263 9 77651/61603 and the Bulawayo Public Prosecutor: + 263 9 63173 (ask to speak to Prosecutor Chifamba) and ask why the women are being denied bail when they have never been convicted of an offence – the state should not imprison to investigate.

This entry was posted on October 22nd, 2008 at 12:52 pm by Amanda Atwood and is filed under Activism, Uncategorized, Women's issues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.