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Zimbabwe Women Activists Continue Protests, Another 30 Arrested


At least 30 members of the activist group Women of Zimbabwe Arise and its male counterpart were arrested Tuesday after staging a demonstration in the southeastern Zimbabwean town of Masvingo in a continuing series of protests. Police in Gweru, the capital of Midlands Province, arrested 34 members of the group there Monday.

Sources in the organization said members took to the streets of Masvingo to distribute copies of what WOZA calls a "people's charter" calling for social justice.

Lawyer Dumisani Hwacha, representing those arrested Tuesday, told reporter Carole Gombakomba of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that police had not yet brought formal charges but say the activists violated a government ban on political rallies.

Meanwhile, eight members of WOZA and its male counterpart organization, Men of Zimbabwe Arise, remained in police custody in Gweru following Monday's protest.

Hilary Garikai, one of the lawyers representing them, said 26 other WOZA and MOZA members were arraigned in Gweru on Tuesday on charges that they participated in an unlawful gathering, and then were released on Z$20,000 (US$2.50) bail.

More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...

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