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Zimbabwe Watch - Press statements
20 November 2003
Partners NiZA arrested in demonstration
NiZA is shocked and furious. More than 80 activists were arrested in Harare during protests against price rises last Tuesday. The riot police mainly arrested leaders of civil society, among whom partners of NiZA. Among the arrestants are: - Andrew Moyse, Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ), partner of the NiZA Media programme (profile)
- Lovemore Madhuku, Chairman National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), partner of the NiZA Human Rights and Peacebuilding Programme (profile)
- Lovemore Matombo, President Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU, profile)
- Wellington Chibhebhe, Secretary General ZCTU (profile)
- Lucia Matibenga, Vice President ZCTU (profile)
- John Makumbe, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (profile)
- Brian Raftopolous, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and University lecturer (profile)
- Mike Davies, Chairman Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA, profile)
Activists were also arrested in cities of Bulawayo, Mutare, Gwanda and Victoria Falls, following similar marches. According to unconfirmed reports it involved more then 300 persons.
Advocates of Lawyers for Human Rights are pleading for the release of the arrestants. ome of the arrestants are accused of organising an unlawful demonstration, others face charges for "hindering traffic" in the streets.
The security laws in Zimbabwe state that demonstrations can only take place with police permission. Protests by groups not allied to the ruling ZANU-PF party are rarely authorised.
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