Police in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, arrested 10 members of Women Of Zimbabwe Arise and allegedly beat dozens as members of the activist group tried to march to the high court to demand an end to the political violence wracking the country.
Sources in the group, known as WOZA, said members were beaten by police in an initial attempt to march to the court, then regrouped near St. Mary’s Cathedral in the city center before being intercepted and beaten again by the police.
The sources said a number of WOZA members were injured when they were struck by a police vehicle. They said 59 members required medical care after the protest.
WOZA founder Jenni Williams was arrested but soon set free, the sources said.
Organizer Magodonga Mahlangu gave reporter Patience Rusere of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe an account of the attempted march to the high court, also called to demand that opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai be recognized as the winner of the March 29 presidential election, which now seems likely to go to a second round.
