Bernie Stephens, Harare
Army troops were used to retain control of streets of central Harare after demonstrators mobilised in support of a Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) day of action against poverty on November 8.
Police were taken off guard by the strength of the protest — which involved up to 1000 people at three inner-city locations — and responded with mass arrests.
However the arrival of 20 demonstrators at government offices with their petitions caused near panic among authorities, who responded by calling out the army.
Zimbabwe Social Forum (ZSF) activists had mobilised strongly for the action and disabled, women and HIV/AIDS activists, socialists and young people were among the arrested.
The organiser had notified police of the march but verbal permission was withdrawn at the last minute. The demonstrators decided to march anyway.
Most of the 116 people arrested in Harare were charged under section 19, the "unlawful" assembly provisions of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), an undemocratic law that is a hangover from the apartheid era.
While most people arrested were released on November 11, many were released under summons, which means that they can be rearrested to face the charges if police "investigations" so warrant. They face a maximum penalty of 14 years' jail.
Despite living conditions that make it difficult for people just to survive, repressive legislation and the mass demolitions and evictions carried out against urban workers and the poor earlier this year, the mood remains defiant. President Robert Mugabe's regime is exposed — calling out the army could be a last resort.
The success of the November 8 demonstration and the participation of the ZCTU leadership and ZSF participants has given activists renewed confidence to call further street actions.
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, November 23, 2005.
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