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of the African Virtual University-Indiana University of Pennsylvania Partnership.

The African Star

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Police  arrest women for staging peaceful World Refugee Day march

 POLICE in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city yesterday arrested and illegally detained 20 women at Donnington Police Station for organizing a peaceful march to mark the World Refugee Day.

 The arrest on 20 Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)leader, Jenny Williams, and other 20 comes two days after 40 others were arrested and detained at the Western Commonage Police Station in Bulawayo.

 In an interview while at the police cells (Saturday19 June ), Williams said those arrested were yet to be charged despite being locked in the cells.

 "The Law and Order police pounced on us before detaining us at the cells at around 12 in the afternoon but up to now 3:30 p.m., they are yet to lay any charges against us.

"What surprises me is that women in this country are not violent but are peace loving people who always organize their march or demonstrations to deliver the intended message," said Williams.

 In Harare WOZA women marched from the Africa Unity Square to the Herald House without being arrested unlike in Bulawayo.

 Contacted for comment, a lawyer from the Human Rights Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe, Qaqa Phulu, said it was unfortunate that the women were arrested when he was away in Chinhoyi. He said  the police would definitely detain them for 48 hours without fair trial.

Last month over 1000 women in Bulawayo were dispersed by the riot police when they peacefully marched and demonstrated against the deteriorating standards of education in the country.

 The women also demonstrated against the government spending of billions of dollars over wrong priorities such as the establishment of the National Service camps for the Green Bombers, where innocent children are taught violence and lies.

 Other issues of concern that prompted women to demonstrate were the recent buying of sophisticated army equipment, increased employment of police personnel and the notorious Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) as well as buying expensive cars for chiefs ahead of the 2005 parliamentary elections.