Women beaten for a peacefull march

A march by pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) was on Wednesday
violently crushed by riot police officers, leaving many people injured and
12 members arrested.

The march had been organised to commemorate the annual International Day of
Peace, and saw four groups of WOZA members converge on the Mhlahlandlela
government complex on Wednesday morning. The groups handed out leaflets and
flowers to passersby, singing songs and talking about national healing.

But this peaceful action was soon brought to a sudden stop when scores of
riot police started rounding up the WOZA members, saying they did not have
permission to march.

A witness said on Wednesday that about 50 riot police were deployed to break up the gathering. He explained that people started running away because the police were beating everyone with batons. He described how he too had to flee the scene because the police spotted him trying to take photographs. He also described seeing a photographer lying on the ground and bleeding heavily.