Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HARARE592
2008-07-03 16:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
WOZA ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
how-toVZCZCXRO9545 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSB #0592 1851619 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 031619Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3137 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2114 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2234 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0772 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1511 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1869 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2290 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4721 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1380 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS HARARE 000592
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM KDEM ZI
SUBJECT: WOZA ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
REF: HARARE 479
UNCLAS HARARE 000592
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM KDEM ZI
SUBJECT: WOZA ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
REF: HARARE 479
1. (U) In their July 3 hearing, Women of Zimbabwe Arise!
(WOZA) activists Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were
granted bail after having spent 33 nights in jail. Williams
received Secretary Rice's Women of Courage award for Africa
in 2007. After the judge exited the courtroom, Williams
hugged the female prison guard next to her and the WOZA
member-filled courtroom burst into applause. The trial date
is set for July 29.
--------------
Background
--------------
2. (U) On May 30, 13 members of WOZA and one member of Men
of Zimbabwe Arise! (MOZA) were arrested during a peaceful
protest in downtown Harare. At their initial bail hearing on
May 31, all 14 were denied bail. When the case went to the
high court on June 13, Justice Ben Hlatshwayo granted bail to
12 members but found that Williams and Mahlangu were at risk
of causing "Kenya-style" violence during the June 27
presidential election. Given that the election has now
passed, Williams' and Mahlangu's lawyer again applied for
bail on July 3 on the basis that circumstances had changed.
The bail in this second hearing was granted. All 14 have to
report to the local police station every Monday and Friday
until their trial date on July 29.
3. (SBU) Poloff spoke with the 12 WOZA members who had been
granted bail on June 13. They were very grateful for
Ambassador McGee's attempt to visit Williams and Mahlangu at
Chikurubi Women's Prison on July 1. The Ambassador and
poloff were denied entrance to the prison because they had
not been granted permission by the Zimbabwean Prison Service
(ZPS). Even though the Ambassador and poloff were not
allowed in the prison, they appreciated the continue support
of the USG and broader diplomatic community. (NOTE: the
Spanish Charge d'affaires and British poloff were allowed to
visit on June 18, despite not having permission from the ZPS.
END NOTE.). Post will continue to monitor the case.
McGee
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM KDEM ZI
SUBJECT: WOZA ACTIVISTS RELEASED ON BAIL
REF: HARARE 479
1. (U) In their July 3 hearing, Women of Zimbabwe Arise!
(WOZA) activists Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were
granted bail after having spent 33 nights in jail. Williams
received Secretary Rice's Women of Courage award for Africa
in 2007. After the judge exited the courtroom, Williams
hugged the female prison guard next to her and the WOZA
member-filled courtroom burst into applause. The trial date
is set for July 29.
--------------
Background
--------------
2. (U) On May 30, 13 members of WOZA and one member of Men
of Zimbabwe Arise! (MOZA) were arrested during a peaceful
protest in downtown Harare. At their initial bail hearing on
May 31, all 14 were denied bail. When the case went to the
high court on June 13, Justice Ben Hlatshwayo granted bail to
12 members but found that Williams and Mahlangu were at risk
of causing "Kenya-style" violence during the June 27
presidential election. Given that the election has now
passed, Williams' and Mahlangu's lawyer again applied for
bail on July 3 on the basis that circumstances had changed.
The bail in this second hearing was granted. All 14 have to
report to the local police station every Monday and Friday
until their trial date on July 29.
3. (SBU) Poloff spoke with the 12 WOZA members who had been
granted bail on June 13. They were very grateful for
Ambassador McGee's attempt to visit Williams and Mahlangu at
Chikurubi Women's Prison on July 1. The Ambassador and
poloff were denied entrance to the prison because they had
not been granted permission by the Zimbabwean Prison Service
(ZPS). Even though the Ambassador and poloff were not
allowed in the prison, they appreciated the continue support
of the USG and broader diplomatic community. (NOTE: the
Spanish Charge d'affaires and British poloff were allowed to
visit on June 18, despite not having permission from the ZPS.
END NOTE.). Post will continue to monitor the case.
McGee