before being released on September 22.148 An executive member of PTUZ told Human
Rights Watch that the arrest was political persecution following PTUZ’s call for a
national teachers’ strike to protest low salaries.149
In yet another sign of unchanged attitudes, Human Rights Watch received
information that a police disciplinary committee on September 24, 2008, ordered the
detention of serving police officer and former national football star Masimba Dinyero
for 21 days for criticizing ZANU-PF leader Robert Mugabe in a casual discussion with
fellow officers.150
At the same time, media reports suggest that Police Commissioner Chihuri met
Mugabe and again threatened to resign if MDC were assigned the Home Affairs
Ministry in a new government of national unity, stating that he was not prepared to
work directly under any MDC minister.151 A dispute between MDC and ZANU-PF over
who should serve as home affairs minister is one reason why the September 15
power-sharing agreement has reached the point of collapse.
More recently, on October 16, police arrested several WOZA supporters in Bulawayo,
briefly detained them and later released all but two without charge.152 The two who
remain in custody are the leaders of WOZA, Jenni Williams and Magondonga
Mahlangu who have been charged with disturbing peace and are being denied
bail.153
On October 27 police tear-gassed and beat about 150 activists from the Women’s
Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) and the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
who were holding a peaceful demonstration in Harare. The police arrested 42 women
from the WCoZ. The demonstrators were calling for a resolution to the political
148
Human Rights Watch telephone interview with an executive member of PTUZ familiar with the case, September 27, 2008.
149
Human Rights Watch telephone interview with an executive member of PTUZ, September 27, 2008.
150
Human Rights Watch telephone interview with a police officer familiar with the case, October 4, 2008.
151
“Chihuri threatens to resign,” The Zimbabwean, October 2, 2008,
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15562:chihuri-threatens-toresign&catid=31:top%20zimbabwe%20stories&Itemid=66 (accessed October 10, 2008).
152
“Williams and Mahlangu remain in custody in Mlondolozi Prison – third week,” WOZA Press Statement, November 3, 2008,
www.wozazimbabwe.org (accessed November 3, 2008).
153
Ibid.
“Our Hands Are Tied”
42
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