Zim allows women to demonstrate against MP

October 11, 2006 - (SAPA-DPA) Police in the Zimbabwean capital Harare allowed dozens of women to demonstrate against statements made in parliament by a controversial opposition MP, it was reported on Wednesday.

The placard-waving demonstrators marched to parliament building in Harare's central Africa Unity Square on Tuesday, the state-owned Herald newspaper reported. The newspaper reported that policemen on bicycles watched the women mill around parliament building, in sharp contrast to anti-government demonstrations by trade union and women's groups last month which were quickly and sometimes brutally quelled by police.

This week's demonstrators appeared to be mostly members of the Zimbabwe Women's Coalition who were outraged by statements last week from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) legislator Timothy Mubawu against the Domestic Violence Bill.

The proposed new legislation aims to give victims of domestic violence, which will become a criminal offence, maximum protection. It also provides for the issuing of protection orders that will ensure the economic maintenance of a complainant while her case is being investigated.

Along with several other MPs from both sides of the house Mubawu is bitterly opposed to the bill, which he has described as "diabolic." It is a dangerous bill and let it be known in Zimbabwe that the right, privilege and status of men is gone. I stand here alone and say this bill should not be passed in this House. Our powers are being usurped in broad daylight, Mubawu said in reported comments that have incensed Zimbabwean women's activists.

Tuesday's demonstration has been given wide media coverage in Zimbabwe, including on state radio. Activists in Zimbabwe are still reeling from the treatment received by some members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) who tried to demonstrate on September 13 but were taken into custody and allegedly beaten by police. The police say the trade unionists were injured while resisting arrest.

From: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=qw1160555941153B253