Urgent action: Zimbabwean activists at risk of arbitrary arrest

25 March 2011

UA 86/11 Risk of arbitrary arrest/Risk of ill-treatment

ZIMBABWE
Jenni Williams (f)
Magodonga Mahlangu (f)

Two leaders of the social justice movement Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, are being sought by police. They are at risk of arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment.

On 12 February, WOZA staged its ninth annual Valentine's Day peaceful protest in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city. Since then police officers have paid regular visits to the homes of WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, attempting to find them. Officers have also contacted a human rights lawyer, demanding he bring the two WOZA leaders to Bulawayo Central Police station. The officer reportedly stated that the two 'must prepare themselves for a long detention'. However, police have given no indication of the reasons why they are searching for the two WOZA leaders, causing fears that the two could be arbitrarily arrested and detained. Both have been arbitrarily arrested on numerous occasions in the past following peaceful protests and have been detained for periods of up to 37 days.

Since February police appear to have launched a crackdown in which human rights activists across the country including WOZA members have been systematically targeted. In one incident, on 28 February, seven members of WOZA and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA) were arrested in Bulawayo and detained for two days. They were allegedly tortured using a method known as falanga, in which victims are beaten on the soles of their feet, while in the custody of the Law and Order section at Bulawayo Central police station. While in custody the detainees were also repeatedly asked for details of the whereabouts of Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu.

On 26 November 2010, the Justice of Appeal at the Supreme Court ruled that Williams and Mahlangu had been wrongfully arrested and detained following a peaceful protest in 2008, and as a result had had their rights and fundamental freedoms violated; and that the state had failed to protect the activists from this abuse.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since February 2003, members of the Zimbabwean social justice movement WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise) have been repeatedly arrested while taking part in peaceful demonstrations against the worsening social, economic, and human rights situation in the country. While in detention, the women have been held in poor and overcrowded conditions, usually for periods ranging from a few hours to several days. WOZA activists have been threatened and assaulted by police officers, who have also obstructed their access to lawyers.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- Expressing concern about the systematic harassment by officers under their command of WOZA members
including Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, and urging them to end these practices by the Law and Order
Section of the Zimbabwe Republic Police;
- Urge them to ensure that the in their conduct, officers are mindful of and respect the ruling by the Supreme
Court of Zimbabwe on 26 November 2010, that in violation of their rights and fundamental freedoms, Jenni
Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were wrongfully arrested and detained over a peaceful demonstration in 2008.
- Urge them to ensure officers under their command respect and protect all human rights in line with Article 1 of
the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operating Organization Code of Conduct for Police Officials.

APPEALS TO:

Deputy Commissioner-General (Crime)
Innocent Matibiri
Zimbabwe Republic Police
P. O. Box 8807, Causeway
Harare,
ZIMBABWE
Fax: 011 263 4 253 212
Salutation: Dear Deputy Commissioner-General

Officer in Charge
Bulawayo Central Police Station
Zimbabwe Republic Police
PO Box 2329
Fife Street/ L Takawira Avenue
Bulawayo,
ZIMBABWE
Fax: 011 263 9 65763
Salutation: Dear Officer in Charge

COPIES TO:

Chief Law Officer
Mrs Cheda
Office of the Attorney General
Tredgold Building
Box 531
Bulawayo,
ZIMBABWE
Fax: 011 263 9 66824

Ambassador Dr. Machivenyika T. Mapuranga
Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe
1608 New Hampshire Ave. NW
Washington DC 20009
Phone: 202 332 7100
Fax: 1 202 483 9326
Email: [email protected] OR [email protected]

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.

Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 6 May 2011.

UANetwork Office
AIUSA
600 Pennsylvania Ave SE,
Washington DC 20003
T. 202.544.0200
F. 202.675.8566
E. [email protected]
amnestyusa.org/urgent/