SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
Police in Harare on Wednesday arrested 37 women protestors who were marking the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights information officer, Kumbirai Mafunda, the women were briefly detained at the Harare Central Police station and later released after being told to apply for police clearance for their future activities. Only last week police in Bulawayo assaulted scores of members of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). The activists were on their way to Mat North Resident Minister Sithokozile Mathuthu’s offices to submit a petition on women’s needs and expectations. The 37 women arrested Wednesday are affiliated to the Katswe Sistahood, a movement of young women fighting for sexual and reproductive health rights in Zimbabwe. The 16 Days of activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign that starts on November 25th and ends December 10th. The campaign hopes to raise awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels. This year’s theme is ‘Let’s challenge militarism and end violence against women’.