POLICE ARREST WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE ARISE PROTESTORS
By Loughty Dube

December 5, 2003 – (Zimbabwe Independent - Harare) SEVERAL women are reported to have been injured and others arrested when riot police broke up a demonstration organised by Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) to protest against food shortages in Bulawayo on Wednesday afternoon.

Over 200 women took part in the demonstration that abruptly ended when truckloads of riot police descended on the women wielding baton sticks sending the group scurrying for cover.

The women marched through the city centre banging pots and waving placards calling for an end to the suffering of women and castigating government for the high price of food and general shortages.

A lawyer representing the women, Perpetua Dube, confirmed the arrests but said the number of those police said were in their cells did not tally with the number given by eye-witnesses.

"Eye-witnesses say they saw about 15 women being bundled into police vehicles but we only have about seven people being confirmed to be in police cells. Now we have to find out where the remainder of the women are being kept," Dube said.

She said by yesterday she was not aware of where some of her clients were being detained but said they were being held at various police stations around Bulawayo.

Police spokesman Smile Dube said he had not received any reports on the matter but promised to provide details once he had been briefed.

"At the moment I have not received information on that matter but I will avail information to you once I get briefed," Dube said.

Eye-witnesses who spoke to the Zimbabwe Independent said at least five women were injured in the clashes with the police.

"We saw about five women with injuries lying around while others were still fleeing with blood gushing from their wounds," said one eye-witness.

This is not the first time that Woza has organised protest marches in Bulawayo. Just a month ago the group staged a successful
demonstration outside the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe protesting against cash shortages in the country.

At time of going to press the total of those still held was 14, Woza said. They included Woza activist Jenni Williams who was held at Queen's Park police station. Others were held at Nkulumane and Entumbane.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200312050180.html