5 WOZA members detained in Harare Central – 9 treated for injuries
Five members, four women and one man, will spend the night in Harare Central
Police Station tonight following their arrest this morning whilst trying to hand
in a petition to the Minister of Education. Lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers for
Human Rights have not been allowed access to their clients so the details of
what they will be charged with are not known. Food has been allowed in to the
group this evening (Feb 25).
News update from WOZA
25th February 2009 – 6pm
5 WOZA members detained in Harare Central – 9 treated for injuries
Five members, four women and one man, will spend the night in Harare Central
Police Station tonight following their arrest this morning whilst trying to hand
in a petition to the Minister of Education. Lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers for
Human Rights have not been allowed access to their clients so the details of
what they will be charged with are not known. Food has been allowed in to the
group this evening (Feb 25).
Nine members have had to receive treatment for the vicious beatings they
received from riot police. All have been discharged however. Most injuries were
deep tissue bruising from being beaten with baton sticks – deep welts can be
seen on most of those that received treatment. One woman has a fractured toe
from where she was stamped on by a booted police officer. The woman for whom the
ambulance was called has a serious injury to her knee. She had been trying to
protect her seven-month old baby from being beaten and was begging police not to
hurt her or her baby. This obviously angered the police who then proceeded to
single her out for a more severe beating. She is unable to walk and had to be
carried home. Many others received beatings but as police were circling the
Ministry continuously, they obviously were not able to make contact with the
support team to receive treatment.
More information will be made available tomorrow morning (26 February).