13 She said WOZA commands respect from the United Nations as human rights defenders. She urged participants to respect human rights by holding non-violent demonstrations. She encouraged trainers to write good reports. Kasinamunda(57) encouraged trainers to instil courage among supporters and plan for future demonstrations.(58) Amnesty International has documented activities of WOZA since the organization was formed in 2003. In April 2006 and February 2007, Amnesty International observed some of WOZA’s training workshops in the city of Bulawayo and rural Insiza district. As confirmed by the report written by the ZRP and posted on the Ministry of Home Affairs website(59) Amnesty International observed that WOZA leaders always insist on disciplined membership and non-violent peaceful action. The police report is one example of a malicious attempt to undermine and discredit WOZA/MOZA and other human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. In the last four years Amnesty International has documented over 30 occasions where hundreds of women protesters have been arrested and detained by the police across the country after engaging or attempting to engage in peaceful protest. These protesters are often severely beaten by police during arrest and/or in detention. On at least five occasions WOZA and MOZA members have been acquitted by the courts following arrests. In most cases, the human rights defenders were acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence. No WOZA/MOZA member has been charged for violent conduct. But still, the police continue to unlawfully arrest, detain and ill-treat them for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of association. The intention of police action against WOZA members is to stop the organization’s members from exercising their right to freely assemble. Amnesty International has also documented cases of women human rights defenders who were subjected to torture after participating in peaceful protest. Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions On 13 September 2006, Lucia Matibenga, the first Vice-President of the ZCTU and 14 male activists were arrested in Harare while attempting to engage in peaceful protest. They were severely beaten by police during the arrest. The beating of the ZCTU members as they were arrested was captured on film. The film(60) clearly shows the trade unionists cooperating with the police during arrest. However, the police can be seen in the film beating the activists, despite the fact that they offered no resistance. The activists were later systematically tortured at Matapi police station in the township of Mbare where they were detained overnight. Lucia Matibenga had one of her eardrums perforated and doctors stated that eight of the detainees had injuries consistent with a torture method called Falanga (beating the soles of the victim’s feet), which can leave victims with difficulties in walking for the rest of their lives. Doctors also say that victims risk needing amputation if they do not have appropriate medical care in time. Despite the video evidence and doctors’ reports, the government of Zimbabwe insisted that police used minimum force to arrest the protesters, who they said were resisting arrest; they vehemently denied that the trade unionists were tortured or beaten in police custody. President Mugabe made this statement on 25 September 2006, while addressing Zimbabwe’s embassy staff in Cairo Egypt: We cannot have a situation where people decide to sit in places not allowed and when the police remove them, they say no. We can’t have that, that is a revolt to the system. Vamwe vaakuchema kuti takarohwa, ehe unodashurwa (others are crying that we were beaten up, yes you would be beaten up). When the police say move, move. If you don’t move, you invite the police to use force.(61) Save Zimbabwe Campaign’s prayer meeting, 11 March 2007 The police report also attempted to justify the use of excessive force, including the killing of NCA member Gift Tandare by police, and beatings and torture of several human rights defenders and leaders of the MDC in Harare on 11 March 2007. In the report, police deny that the activists were tortured or severely beaten while in police custody at Machipisa police station. However, there are inconsistencies in the police report that cast doubt on the police explanation of these events. For example, Sekai Holland, a 64-year-old member of the MDC and a longstanding women’s rights defender, is listed in the report(62) as one of the persons arrested on the way to the venue of a prayer meeting in Harare’s low income suburb of Highfield. There is no mention of Holland resisting arrest. However, Holland sustained serious injuries all over her body. She maintains that she was tortured by police officials while in custody. This account is backed up by a number of eye witness accounts and supported by medical reports. According to eye witness reports and Amnesty International interviews with the victims, the detainees were beaten while in detention at Machipisa police station, and beatings continued at various