Protestors arrested during peaceful demonstration in Zimbabwe

(2012-09-13) The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights condemns the September 12 arrest and arbitrary detention of members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) during a peaceful demonstration in Bulawayo and strongly denounces the continued crackdown on freedom of assembly and other basic human rights by the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force (ZRP). The RFK Center views the continued harassment of human rights defenders as a foreboding trend in Zimbabwe and calls upon the Inclusive Government to respect fundamental rights as enshrined in its constitution and international law.

The demonstration, which took place outside the state-owned Chronicle Newspaper, demanded a resumption of the country’s stalled constitutional reform process. Police arrested ten women -- and later released each of them without charge -- including Programs Coordinator Magodonga Mahlungu and National Coordinator Jenni Williams. The demonstration came on the heels of earlier public activities in the capital Harare, where WOZA members petitioned parliament to take the country’s draft constitution to the general public and to set a date for a national referendum.

"The continued harassment of civil society in Zimbabwe is an unacceptable violation of fundamental human rights, including freedom of speech and assembly. The RFK Center is also gravely concerned about increasing reports of torture by the police and the selective use of violence against civil society actors,” said Santiago A. Canton, director of RFK Partners for Human Rights. “We call upon relevant authorities to halt the continued persecution of WOZA and other civic groups that represent key voices during this critical time in Zimbabwe’s history.”

WOZA members have demonstrated peacefully against social injustice for over a decade in Zimbabwe, focusing most recently on constitutional reforms, including issues of gender equality and free education. While WOZA has been a frequent target of authorities in Zimbabwe, increasing numbers of other civil society groups have been facing similar attacks. Most recently, police raided the headquarters of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Zimbabwe (GALZ), brutally assaulted activists, and began procedures to shut down its operations altogether. Also this week, a life skills workshop organized by the National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) was barred from taking place without legitimate reason.

The RFK Center urges Zimbabwe’s Inclusive Government to act immediately to halt the closing of democratic space in the country and to investigate the blatantly unprofessional and partisan conduct of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force. The RFK Center stands in solidarity with WOZA and with all Zimbabweans who are actively and bravely working to safeguard Zimbabwe’s democratic transition.