Woza women walk free
By Gerry Jackson

October 3, 2006 - (SW Radio Africa) Four Women Of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) walked free after the State withdrew charges following a plea of not guilty. The women had been arrested at Matshobana Hall on June 16th while they were having a meeting about self help projects.They were charged under the Public Order and Security Act for failing to notify authorities.

The Magistrate, Ms Duta, found the women not guilty and said there had been no need for them to seek police clearance before convening the meeting. A statement released by Woza on Tuesday said: “Making his submission to the court, the prosecutor, Mr Ndebele, said it had not been necessary for the women to seek permission from regulatory authorities as chapters 25 and 26 of the Public Order and Security Act stipulate that permission should only be sought if such a meeting has potential to cause public disorder or breach of peace, which had not been the case. Ndebele also questioned the rationale behind turning some of the women into state witnesses when they had attended the meeting in question and should have been charged together with other WOZA members. He also went on to absolve himself by saying that police had then not prepared witness statements necessary to make a case.

It came to light after the trial that Law and Order officials interrogated and threatened with unspecified action the state witnesses (WOZA members) if they did not tell the “truth” just before the trial. This interrogation took place in a room upstairs within the Western Commonage Courts. The women insisted that they would only give evidence as to the jam making meeting and knew of no other business on the day in question.”

Various other court cases against WOZA women will be held this month and WOZA invites anybody who wishes to show solidarity with the women to attend the proceedings. Nine women arrested on 19 June during a peaceful demonstration, will be charged under the Miscellaneous Offences Act on 4th October. They will be in one of the courtrooms on the second floor at the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court. As well as these two trials taking place this week, 107 and 153 WOZA members will also be in remand court on 5th and 10th in Harare and Bulawayo respectively. Details of the allegations and names of those on trial are available on request.

For more information please contact Jenni Williams on 263 91 300 456 or 263 91 898 110 or email wozazimbabwe@yahoo.com

From: http://www.swradioafrica.com/news031006/woza031006.htm