Support For Women in Zimbabwe who Refuse to be Intimadated

Since Valentine's Day 2003, women belonging to the human rights organization Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) have been repeatedly arrested by the police.

Many of the women have been arrested and later released without charge, but some have been charged under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). Some have also been charged under the Miscellaneous Offences Act (MOA), usually with “conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace”. Lawyers have reported that MOA is often used by the police after they try and fail to bring charges under POSA.

Amnesty International believes that this harassment is part of the government's plan to silence opposition leading up to the March 2005 election. Zimbabwe is now threatening to ban international human rights groups as well as the foreign funding of local organizations. The women of WOZA have refused to be silenced and intimidated by laws that severely restrict the rights of citizens to freely associate, assemble and express themselves - rights that are internationally recognized and are cornerstones of any democratic society.

Help us stop the harassment and arrests of these courageous women by writing a polite letter to the Provincial Commanding Officer (a sample letter available here) at the following address:

The Officer Commanding, Provincial Headquarters, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe Republic Police, PO Box 701 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

A copy of the letter (or a fax) may be sent to the Zimbabwe President, to the Ministry of Justice and to the Zimbabwe High Commission in Canada at addresses available on the website as well.