WOZA POWER OUTAGE PROTESTS DRAW HARSH POLICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000343 SIPDIS SIPDIS AF/S FOR S. HILL NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN USAID FOR M. COPSON AND E. LOKEN ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL ZI SUBJECT: WOZA POWER OUTAGE PROTESTS DRAW HARSH POLICE RESPONSE Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.5 b/d -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Over 500 Women of Zimbabwe Arise! (WOZA) supporters on April 19 held simultaneous demonstrations at several government offices in Bulawayo to protest frequent power outages; police arrested more than 80. Approximately 450 WOZA supporters staged a second series of simultaneous protests at five government offices in Harare on April 23; police arrested more than 50 more activists. In both incidents police used harsh treatment and threats to intimidate WOZA supporters. Undeterred, WOZA has plans for another demonstration in the Harare city center in early May. End Summary. -------------- WOZA Attempts To Turn Off GOZ's Lights -------------- ¶2. (U) Continuing civil society's recent push against the Mugabe regime, over 500 WOZA supporters held simultaneous demonstrations on Thursday, April 19 in front of three Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) offices in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city. The group was protesting frequent power outages and poor service as part of WOZA's "Power to the People" campaign, a series of actions leading up to the presidential elections planned for March 2008. ¶3. (U) Bulawayo police arrested more than 80 WOZA supporters and subjected numerous detainees to humiliating and harsh treatment. A news release from WOZA reported that police at the Luveve police station in Bulawayo forced 18 arrestees to strip and to remain undressed for the entire day. Police released all the WOZA arrestees by Friday evening after charging them with crimes against public order. ¶4. (U) Bulawayo police also arrested two young WOZA supporters when they attempted to deliver food for the arrestees. Two officers of the Zimbabwe Republic Police's notorious Law and Order division reportedly beat one of the two and tied her wrists with an electric cord, threatening to plug it in if she did not divulge the source of the money for the food. According to WOZA director Jenni Williams, the officers also told the young woman that they would "behead" Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, another WOZA leader, the next time they were arrested. ¶5. (C) Approximately 450 WOZA members followed-up the Bulawayo protests with similar demonstrations in front of five ZESA offices around Harare on Monday, April 23. Harare police arrested more than 50 more WOZA supporters, including 10 babies. The arrestees were taken to the Kuwadzana police station. A WOZA spokesperson told us that police were seen beating two of the detainees, but the extent of the injuries remained unknown. Police have denied the arrestees access to lawyers. -------------- Comment -------------- HARARE 00000343 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) The police response to these latest WOZA protests indicates that the regime remains fearful of the growing momentum of civil society and opposition actions -- especially in light of the increased international attention on recent events. Despite arrests and occasional harsh treatment of WOZA protesters, Williams informed us that WOZA plans to organize another demonstration in the Harare city center in early May. End Comment. DELL