WOZA Queens arrested in the City of Kings (Bulawayo)
August 5, 2003

Exclusive to FreeAfrica: the following is a true testimony of the detailed events that led to and resulted in the brutal arrest and abuse of the women and children in Zimbabwe as they united to express their disgust about the laws and other Acts of brutality enacted by the Mugabe regime in its attempt to psychologically and physically conquer the victimized masses into submission.

(Jenni Williams of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise {WOZA} organization tells of the gruesome events and her experiences in the prison cells now meant and dedicated for the solitary confinement of democrats and freedom fighters)

At a meeting in Harare on July 5th, 2003, 175 leaders of civil society organizations, representing women, labour, students, youths, churches, farmers, academics, minority groups, media, legal and medical
practitioners met for a historic conference on Dialogue and Transition. One of the resolutions was to demand the repeal of unjust laws, such as Public Order Security Act (POSA), in order to facilitate an enabling environment for greater participation by citizens in the process of transition. Women of
Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were represented at that meeting and at subsequent WOZA report back meetings; those resolutions were adopted for action. At further meetings with Bulawayo based civic activists, it was agreed to conduct a peaceful protest calling for the repealing of POSA. Wednesday
24th July 2003 was the day activities would peak. Women were willing to take the lead in the protest. Harare based activists were to convene prayer meetings and a public meeting to be addressed by Honorable Members of parliament and nationalists, Edson Zvobgo, Edgar Tekere, Paul Themba Nyathi and Dr John Makumbe. No one was arrested at the Harare meeting.

The theme of the protest was to call for the repealing of POSA, which undermines basic freedoms and the spirit of the Zimbabwean constitution. Inspiration as to how to conduct the protest also came from the history books. In July 1960, popular demonstrations rocked Rhodesia. Police killed 11 people in Bulawayo, and the Whitehead regime enacted the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act (LOMA) thereafter. In 2002, the Government of Zimbabwe repealed LOMA, and replaced it with the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

A letter was prepared for delivery to the Senior Prosecutor in Bulawayo. The letter quoted Ecclesiastes 3: 1-7 and closed with this paragraph; "We, concerned citizens say time is up for POSA. Time is up for silence and the time has come for us to be allowed to meet freely. There is even talk of party dialogue, how will politicians speak whilst the nation is forced into silence? Repeal POSA and other repressive legislations and allow the nation to heal."

At 10 am on 24th July 2003, women in all shapes and sizes, some with babies and youth began to arrive and gather outside Tredgold Building. A delegation went in to deliver the letter whilst those outside sang the African national anthem, 'God Bless Africa'. As courage increased more and more banners were opened –– handwritten banners written; “LOMA and POSA are both colonial tools; Time up for POSA; and Repeal POSA”.
When the delegation that had delivered the letter to the prosecutor returned, the peaceful protesters had grown to about 600 with passersby joining in. The leaders then gathered to march and began to sing religious songs. Marching up to Herbert Chitepo Street and turning towards the High Court, some policemen were on sight but they ignored the protesters and walked on. By the time the mob reached 9th Avenue, a good time was being enjoyed by all. Someone commented that this was why we want POSA to be repealed, so we could have the feeling of peaceful expression without intimidation. We turned towards St Mary’s Cathedral, still in charge of the streets of Bulawayo and singing religions songs. Many of us were now hopeful that the non-attendance of riot police would last. Most of us had not seen a protest begin and end without disturbance since the WOZA protest in November 2002 during the two week protests against domestic violence.

When we reached the Catholic Cathedral, the leaders began to discuss the dispersing of the group and it was resolved that we would proceed to the Commuter Omnibus Terminus and there the activists would catch their transport home. As we approached the terminus, a police vehicle carrying ‘law and order officers’ drove past us. We began to disperse. Riot police arrived, jumping quickly out of their military vehicles, wielding batons and ready to strike. Some activists had begun to disperse and others started to run away. I was with some of the leaders and we were within the terminus when someone tapped me on the shoulder asking me to come with them. I asked who he was and he explained that he was a police officer, stating “'we are arresting only YOU”.
I insisted he show me his ID and then followed him. The other leaders closeby heard him say that he was arresting me alone and began to follow. As we walked, I told my companions that I was under arrest and the intention was to arrest me alone. Many women protested insisting that they had been part of the protest. As I got into the Defender (the Zimbabwe Armoured Military vehicle), nine women piled in with me. I called a lawyer while watching the second Defender quickly fill up.

And as we were piled up inside the detention room at the Central Police Station in Fife Street, more and more women forced their way in until there were 48 women and 4 babies, aged between two (2) months and two (2) years. I saw another seven women being chased out of the courtyard by riot police. Some women kept a daily presence outside the police station until our release on Saturday 27th July.

It was midday Thursday 25th July, when the paperwork regarding our detention began. We were handed over to the police officers in charge at the time and we went through the same procedure of interrogation, multiple times. By the time we went home on Saturday, 7 different police officers had separately recorded statements from us. These statements were being recorded by hand as opposed to electronically (as one would expect from a major police office that has been in existence for at least 23 years). Several other police officers showed remorse and commented as they walked by, about the elderly women that were amoungst us. At least 17 of these elderly women were of ages ranging between 60years and 70 years, including one granny (gogo) Jane who insisted she was the oldest but did not know her age or date of birth.

Judging from the amount of time and patience that these police officers had to deal with us individually, it became obvious to us that they had no 'real criminals' to hunt down and so we were their real prey –– and all for the ‘crime’ of wanting to be free to think and to express one’s opinions, politically and socially. I had been the first to be taken for interrogation.

I Jenni Williams, mother of three, versus six policemen!

I was only questioned for some 25 minutes and during that time there were long silences of frustration experienced by the sexist officers. Sometimes a single question was asked; sometimes more than one was fired at me simultaneously. The session ended after I quoted the Zimbabwean Constitution section allowing for Freedom of Association, Assembly and Expression. One of the officers said, "You are very determined" and ended the session. They had accused me of being the organiser to which I had replied that WOZA believed women were all equal in their fight for their rights so we were all organisers. As I left the room, I was warned that someone would implicate me as the organiser, and an elderly woman (gogo), called Sophia was taken for questioning next. She returned saying she had told them that she was the ringleader!

One young lady returned in tears and there was almost a riot with the women demanding to know why she was crying. She later told us that she had been told to cover her face with a bandanna after which she was hit on the head with an unidentified object. One more woman also came to us crying after the police harrassment. Upon noticing that their 5:00 pm knock off time had come and gone, the police officers then decided to interrogate us in groups of four. Some officers where called to begin the fraudulent indictment process by taking warned and cautioned statements which were typed on antiquated typewriters whose typeset-ribbons were even too faint to be seen. An additional copy of carbon paper was used to allow for a readable copy. At about 9:15pm when nine of us remained awaiting statement processing, we were told there was no more paper. We were separated from the rest and taken to Entumbane Police Station for the night.

All the while during this process we were subjected to brutal and baseless verbal abuse. One police officer insisted I show him what I had in the pockets of my jacket - I had some leaflets calling for the repealing of POSA. The leaflets were exactly as seen in the Crisis Coalition adverts in the newspapers. The officer then openly stated, “nothing in Zimbabwe will be ok until we deport Jenni Williams”. I suggested that he could deport me to my rural home, Gwanda in Matabeleland South!

We were aware that well wishers bringing food had been turned back 3 times despite police officers assurances that we would have access to food while in the prison. During the next few days very little food was brought to us as some officers insisted that only lawyers could bring us food whilst others said only relatives could do that. Women consoled themselves by acknowledging that even in their homes there was hardly any food so we were no worse off. Another woman said that she was happy that her children had fresh milk to drink and that would fill their stomachs during her absence. During the 48 hours in detention, from Thursday to Saturday morning, all we were given to eat by the State prison officers was two spoonfuls of yellow maize porridge and two spoonfuls of beans shared amoungst 39 inmates. Some of us were fortunate to get two pieces of bread and a bun with a drink from well-wishers and sympathisers.

As for the sleeping arrangements, 39 women and 4 babies shared a small cell. The cell number was/is 3 at the Central Police Station. About 8 blankets spread across the hard concrete floor barely covering it. We were only allowed one item of clothing to cover our bodies and single underwear. Besides our blankets, drilled through the hard concrete floor, was a hole strategically designed as the toilet for that cell. The women were squeezed together and uncomfortable, but fortunately we managed to secure the release of the mothers with babies by demanding that they at least be given some respect. They were allowed to go home by Friday night, in their lawyers’ custody and were to report back for Court proceedings on Saturday. Nine of us who went to Entumbane Police Station seemed to be better off. The police officer who was tasked with the duty of driving us to Entumbane Police Station ordered us into the back of an open military (civilian like) truck and informed us that he did not intend us to arrive alive at our destination of Entumbane Police Station. This police officer proceeded to live up to his threat by driving at a neck breaking speed through the busy city centre reroute to Entumbane, a high-density suburb. By God's grace, we did arrive alive.
This disrespectful police officer insisted that we jump over the tailgate of the vehicle, as he did not want to waste his time opening it for us. We asserted our rights and demanded that he treat us with dignity. We remained in the Military truck until he opened the tailgate. The two grandmothers in our group were relieved.

Zimbabwean culture demands that elderly women be treated with respect, and by our actions we reminded the police officer that despite being a policeman in uniform he was still bound by cultural manners and values. After a new round of harassment from another 3 young police officers at Entumbane, who took their time over everything, we were put in a cell in which we had to share 12 blankets. These blankets seemed to have just come out of storage, as they were extremely dusty and smelly, owing to the conclusion that they had not been washed for a reasonably lengthy period. Putting the blankets over my head for extra warmth, I soon found myself covered by lice moving all over my body. None of us cared to complain about the condition of the blankets at this time mainly because we were all just thankful for something that could at least shield us from the hard hitting winter cold that we were enduring, worsened by the concrete floor of the cell.

The next morning, we were served porridge, as I ate two spoonfuls, a strange spirit of celebration came over me. I had survived my first night in the State’s brutal prison. Feeling disturbed by all that had occurred, shock was replaced by the harsh reality of life in Zimbabwe. It left a bitter taste in my mouth and I could not stomach any more porridge. A verse in the bible states;

'they that sow in tears shall reap in joy'. I prayed for that day to come soon.

There were foreign currency traders 'Osiphatheleni' (a term now commonly used to refer mainly to Apostolic Faith foreign currency black-market trading women who themselves use this term to lure potential business from passersby) in the prison cell enduring the cold, and when they were let out for food they caused a stampede resulting in a police officer assaulting one of the them till she was unconscious. She was just left lying in the cells’ corridor on the cold concrete floor unattended.

Police officers came to collect us at about 11:30 am and we were marched to their offices. Our lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights were present awaiting our arrival. I was however whisked away before I could talk to them. I was taken back to the truck and moments later one of the lawyers followed and asked me if I knew where I was being taken. When I told her that I did not know, she told me that I was being taken to have my house searched. She asked for the search warrant from the police officers and they told her that it was still being processed, but they insisted that they had reasonable cause to search my house for proof that I was the organiser of the protest. We decided to allow them to proceed but I resolved not to assist them in their assignment. When they asked the way, I told them to find a map and when we arrived at my home, they were faced with another task of persuading my House Keeper (employee) to let them in.

The four police officers then proceeded to look through papers in my lounge. I am by profession a Public Relations (PR) Consultant and at present I spend most or all my time engaging in campaigns against political, social and human rights abuses. I own a Public Relations consultancy company, although it is now –– because of my activities –– dormant. A file on a recent Crisis Coalition workshop and research on the July 1960 protests was found in my house and it received great attention for detail. They insisted on taking documents, which they said were 'subversive'. Examples of documents they took include a recent speech I made on a gender based media study; some old notebooks; write ups on publicity and public opinion which they said was proof I was involved in intelligence training; a copy of the Zimbabwean constitution (I hope they read it); some receipts and notes on food distribution in urban areas; Peace and dialogue workshop materials, including a speech by Bishop Trevor Manhanga made at a public meeting.

They kept asking me where my children where, saying they wanted to see them. Thankfully my children have been removed to safety, having completed their schooling. I have always known that the State secret police would attempt to get to me via my children. Even my husband was put on the list for arrest but they were not able to get him.

With the search over, we returned to Central Police Station and they proceeded to record a statement, charging us under the notorious Public Order Security Act (POSA). The first charge/conviction was for participating in a public gathering without prior police approval, which is deemed –– under POSA, Section 24 (1) –– an illegal gathering. I denied the charges drawing attention to the excerpt in the Act, allowing for meetings of clubs and other non-political organizations (like Women of Zimbabwe Arise) to hold public meetings without police approval.

WOZA is a civic and women's rights organisation providing women with a communication and action platform against violence, abuse and other related issues of concern.

My arguments with the police officer as I referred him to the excerpt within the Act, concerning the charges that I was being framed on, resulted in some intense war of words between us, as the officer was either unable to understand or was simply refusing to comprehend with the truth.

This certainly strengthened general and evident opinion that Zimbabwe is living far from democracy - laws are viewed as ZANU PF laws and challenging them means you are an enemy.

We were reunited with the other ladies by Friday night. As the cell was opened we tried to enter but found we could not take a step without stepping on someone. There were no working light bulbs in the cells; pitch dark is the night in a Zimbabwean prison. The Police officer said he had a bigger cell, cell number 1. He warned us though, that the toilet was blocked and the cell had not been used for sometime. Seeing that we would not fit in cell 3, he decided to open up cell number 1 and we were to be squeezed into it. All the women followed as they longed the comfort of togetherness and we were soon all squeezed in. By the next morning some 50 women were in that cell and we had to take turns sitting, standing and lying flat on the floor, just so as to get some form of sleep. We could not call it sleep, as the luxury of complete sleep was impossible. The toilet did not flush and every time someone went to relieve themselves the acidic smell would choke us much like we were in a 'urine sauna'.

Talk about weapons of mass destruction!

We were relieved to go out for head counts and fresh air, but many of us by then had developed upper respiratory chest infections. It was a long night, 3 women fell ill, one asthmatic woman had an attack and had to be revived and thankfully she was taken to a separate detention room for the rest of the night.

We heard men screaming in agony and newcomers into our cell told us what they had witnessed. One told of a young man who was beaten by policemen in the detention room. One of the officers had then looked at the face of his victim, only to realise that it was his neighbour's son. He had quickly apologised and sent him home. I heard a sound I will not forget for a long time to come, the sound of a grown man screaming in pain, obviously being beaten. It was painful to hear a fellow Zimbabwean suffer and I believe that we will not be free as a nation until we can say with one loud voice;

“Hurt one Zimbabwean and you hurt us all, Starve one Zimbabwean and you starve us all!”.

We were distracted from our discomforts by a prostitute who had been arrested after fighting over a man in a nightclub. Still in a state of inebriation, she entertained us with details of how she had fought with her rival. She admitted to us that she had grown weary of the taunting by people for 'always being in bars' and said she felt she should look for her own man, settle down and end this hard way of life. I was very proud to find the WOZA women immediately took up the challenge to preach to this lady. We immediately began to pray for her and a special song inspired by the holy spirit was sung to help her on the journey towards becoming the better woman we all knew her to be deep down inside her heart.

This shows the character of the women of WOZA - on the streets fighting vocally, yet peacefully for God given rights. Praying for an end to the suffering of our families whilst at the same time being God fearing in outlook; firmly, softly and gently expressing love for the nation and all Zimbabweans. On Saturday morning, we successfully made free bail, myself on both charges and the other 47 ladies on their single charge for participating in the protest.

We will appear to answer for these fraudulent charges on August 13th 2003, the day after our famous Heroes holiday ends.

As we left the dock on the day of the bail hearings, so did the entire courtroom of women, sons and daughters, who had come to provide support. As we arrived outside, there was great jubilation and much hugging and shouts of 'Go Warriors!’ 'Go Warriors!' (a slogan in Zimbabwe, which refers to the national soccer team).

Woza women, the mothers of the nation will achieve their objectives and POSA will be repealed.

Please pray for the WOZA Warriors of 24th July 2003, today, tomorrow and especially on 13th August 2003, as we appear in the Bulawayo Provincial magistrate's court. Bulawayo compatriots can join us for a prayer service at Bulawayo Presbyterian Church in Jason Moyo Street at 8:30am on the 9th August 2003.

By Jenni Williams - human and women's rights activist and a founder of Women of Zimbabwe Arise, (WOZA).