14 WOZA and other demonstrations Women of Zimbabwe Arise is a women’s NGO formed specifically in response to the impact of worsening economic conditions upon women39. The numerous demonstrations called by this group have all ended in the arrest and detention of most of the women concerned40. Despite the fact that the group has no overt political agenda, in a rare admission, protests against economic hardships are perceived by government as being opposition-affiliated. Here customary gender based discrimination falls away, and the women are treated by the police in the exactly same way as their male counterparts in respect of the appalling conditions under which they are held (often together with their infant children), the excessive and often brutal force used in affecting their arrest and lack of provision of sanitary towels41. The police have sought to justify the arrests in terms of the widely abhorred Public Order and Security Act (POSA). However, both in the case of WOZA and other demonstrations the police have interpreted the provisions of POSA as giving them even broader powers than the draconian provisions of the Act itself. The result has been the acquittal of demonstrators in most instances when the matter comes to court42. While the intent behind the arrests is usually harassment and deterrence, rather than successful prosecution, the impact on already overburdened courts and the police force has, in 2006, resulted in a change of tactics by the Zimbabwean state. As recent demonstrations in September and November 2006 have shown 43, the policy of the police is now to deter non-government sanctioned demonstrators by halting the demonstration, meting out brutal assaults and then telling the would-be demonstrators to leave. Secretly filmed footage obtained by the Human Rights Forum of a National Constitutional Assembly44 demonstration in November 2006, shows would-be demonstrators seated in a circle being beaten by several police officers whose attitude and expressions are more apposite to people threshing grain than perpetrating an assault. After the beating the men and women were told to leave. The degree of force used showed no gender bias. On several occasions, President Mugabe has openly given his imprimatur to the violence used in suppressing demonstrations45. Who is responsible for the violence? 39 40 41 42 43 44 See the WOZA page at http://www.kubatana.net/html/sectors/wom010.asp?sector=WOMEN accessed 26/11/06. The six demonstrations called by WOZA in 2006 have all ended in this manner. Human Rights Watch “You Will Be Thoroughly Beaten” The Brutal Suppression of Dissent in Zimbabwe November 2006 Volume 18, No. 10(A) p23 (Human Rights Watch Report) Human Rights Watch Report p16 Particularly the NCA demonstration described immediately below and the well publicized torture in custody of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions officials in October, 2006 see the Human Rights Watch Report for details of the ZCTU protest. An NGO lobbying for constitutional reform. “A Woman’s Place is in the Home ?” – Gender Based Violence and Opposition Politics in Zimbabwe.