Commissioner General of Police Augustine Chihuri

Zimbabwe Republic Police
Police Headquarters
PO Box 8807
Causeway
Harare
Zimbabwe

Dear Commissioner-General,

Members of women’s rights group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were arrested during a peaceful demonstration on Valentine’s Day 2003. Some were held for four hours, others were detained overnight. Since then, WOZA members have repeatedly been arrested, intimidated, harassed and ill-treated by police.

Arrests continue to take place during peaceful protests and demonstrations. Some WOZA members have been arrested and detained while pregnant or accompanied by their children.

On 28 May 2008, 14 WOZA activists were arrested by police in Harare at a demonstration against state-sponsored violence in the run-up to the second round of the presidential elections. Twelve activists were bailed on 11 June, while WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were denied bail and spent 37 days in custody. The trial of the two WOZA leaders continues and, if convicted, they could spend up to five years in prison.

Over 3,000 WOZA members have spent time in police custody and their human rights work is continually overshadowed by the threat of arrest.

I want to express my concern at the repeated arbitrary arrest, intimidation, harassment and ill-treatment of WOZA activists.

I call on you to respect the right of WOZA members to exercise their constitutionally and internationally guaranteed freedom of expression, association and assembly.

Sincerely,

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