UPDATE – 8th MAY
Monday evening

Day Five and the 105 charged by the police in Bulawayo
have at long last been released. Lawyers went to court
early this morning where the prosecutor refused to
proceed with the charges against the group. Section 7c
of the Miscellaneous Offences Act refers to behaviour
which is “likely to materially interfere with the
ordinary comfort, convenience, peace or quiet of the
public”. The prosecutor asked if the police could
produce members of the public who had been
discomforted or inconvenienced and without such
evidence insisted that those still in custody be
released immediately. If the police wish to proceed
with the case, they can do so by the way of summons.
It is yet to be seen whether they will choose to do
so.

Despite the fact that the order for their release came
through just after 9am, the last of the group was only
released around 3pm. With their release, it has
emerged that amongst the group detained for the last
five days was a seven-month pregnant woman and a
physically disabled man.

Whilst members in Bulawayo were nearing the end of
their five day ordeal, their sisters in Harare took to
the streets at 1pm this afternoon to continue the
demand for affordable education for all. Approximately
200 women and 10 children marched from Nelson Mandela
Avenue to Kwame Nkrumah Ave. Singing, carrying
placards reading amongst others, mothers demand their
children’s right to education" and handing out flyers,
the group passed several soldiers outside Parliament
before stopping outside the offices of the Ministry of
Education. There they left copies of the Woza Moya
newsletter, which lists WOZA’s demands to the
government, before dispersing. There have been no
reports of arrests so far.

After a difficult five days, WOZA declares a victory
for those Zimbabweans who are prepared to stand up and
be counted. We also salute the spirit of the women and
men who withstood harassment and intimidation by
police to defend their children’s rights. We
especially want to pay tribute to the 73 children
arrested for defending their own rights. Their courage
is an example to us all. The campaign for affordable
education for all is not over however. Until the
astronomical school fee increases have been reversed,
WOZA will continue to apply pressure. We invite all
those Zimbabweans who have chosen to say NO to passive
acceptance of intimidation and humiliation to join us
in demanding an end to these increases.

_______________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE – 7th MAY
Sunday evening

Day Four and conditions for those in custody remain
unpleasant. At Hillside Police Station, the women,
most of them elderly, are only allowed out for ten
minutes, three times a day to eat, during which time
they are kept under armed guard “in case they try to
escape”. The painkillers that lawyers had to fight to
gain them access to were only given to them late last
night. The women also continue to be on the receiving
end of intimidation. At Bulawayo Central, the women
have been denied access to blankets despite the cold
weather and the fact that there allegedly plenty of
blankets in the cell administration office. Due to the
cold weather and being forced to sleep on concrete
floors, many women are becoming ill. This afternoon a
Law and Order officer at Bulawayo Central, Ngwenya,
told those bringing food to the group that he would
not allow them to have dinner “because they are
getting too much food”. Nonetheless, food has been
received at all stations for all meals today.

We have also learned that police were actively
targeting children for arrest after Thursday’s
peaceful demonstration. At Bulawayo’s central commuter
omnibus rank, police were looking for children in
school uniform and removing them and their mothers
from the commuters to arrest them. Behaviour which
clearly demonstrates the callous nature of this regime
and their blatant disregard for children’s rights.

It has also emerged that a 16-year old boy has been
amongst the group detained since Thursday. Lawyers
secured his release, and that of an 18 year-old girl,
this afternoon. It is hoped that the rest of the group
will be brought to court early tomorrow morning.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_

UPDATE – 6th MAY
Saturday afternoon

We can at last confirm the number of adults arrested
was 112, eight of them mothers with infants. Together
with the 73 children, the total arrested on Thursday
was 185. The remaining mother and baby at Mzilikazi
Police Station were finally released today. The
officer at Mzilikazi who denied them their freedom
last night has been identified as Assistant Inspector
Mugute. The other 104 women and men will remain in
custody until Monday when they will be brought to
court. Police continued to use delaying tactics this
morning, ensuring that they could not be brought to
court today.

Whilst food has not been denied so far, painkillers
(paracetemol) were denied at Hillside Police Station
until a lawyer and the Officer-in-Charge from Bulawayo
Central (a 15 minute drive away) came and insisted
they be allowed to be given to the women, some of them
elderly, who are in pain from having to lie on
concrete floors for two days.

Spirits remain strong amongst the different groups,
despite the discomfort and cold nights.