About 200 members of the activist group Women of Zimbabwe Arise demonstrated Monday outside the South African Embassy in Harare to make the point that civic groups should be involved in talks between the ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for democratic Change that Pretoria is mediating.
WOZA demonstrated in defiance of a police ban on rallies and political gatherings in central Harare, which authorities extended for one month on Saturday.
Chief Superintendent Isaac Tayengwa in an order published in the state-controlled Herald newspaper said "disturbances in Harare Central District and the surrounding areas in the past months have forced me to issue this temporary prohibition order."
WOZA National Coordinator Jenni Williams told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that South African President Thabo Mbeki, mediating the talks on behalf of regional leaders, must hear the concerns of civil society groups.
More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...