Zim cops ban Valentine's demo

Zim cops ban Valentine's demo

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By Agencies
16/02/04
SCORES of heavily armed riot police on Saturday stamped out an attempt by a women's organisation to hold a St Valentine's Day march for peace, love and reconciliation in Zimbabwe's strife-ridden society, threatening to shoot the women if they defied the ban, organisers said.

Jenni Williams, spokesperson for Women of Zimbabwe Arise, a group pressing for women's political rights, said demonstrators arriving at assembly points in the capital, Harare and the second city of Bulawayo were roughly hustled away by police.

Marches planned in other centres were also abandoned, she said. Police told WOZA lawyers on Saturday that they would not permit St Valentine's Day demonstrations under any circumstances.

"They threatened to shoot to kill if we went ahead," she said. "They have been offered love, but they have chosen hate."

Police denied blocking the rally.

On St Valentine's Day last year 48 WOZA members were arrested in Harare and 19 in Bulawayo when they took to the streets, offering roses to passers-by and holding banners urging non-violence and tolerance.

The ban on the attempted demonstration occurred as shops in Zimbabwe's main urban centres did a roaring trade in red roses, valentine cards and risque underwear, and middle-class Zimbabweans filled the columns of newspapers with love messages.

Williams said police had objected to critical remarks about President Robert Mugabe's government in WOZA's most recent newsletter. Since April 2000 Zimbabwean authorities have banned all public demonstrations meant to protest against Mugabe's rule.

Police routinely respond to any sign of anti-government gatherings with teargas, baton charges and mass arrests.
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