The South African Council of Churches (SACC) expressed concern today over the lack of progress in addressing the continuing political, economic and human rights crises in Zimbabwe. Council leaders have been especially alarmed by the recent detention of Magodonga Mahlangu and Jenni Williams, two leaders of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), a community organization working to empower women to take leadership in the quest for sustainable solutions to contemporary social challenges.

About 200 WOZA activists gathered outside government offices in Bulawayo on World Food Day (16 October) to demand immediate access to food aid in Zimbabwe. According to press accounts and information gathered by international human rights agencies, police used force to disperse the peaceful demonstration. A number of women were allegedly beaten by police, including several who were arrested even before the protest commenced. Most of those arrested were apparently released during the course of the day, but Mahlangu and Williams remain in detention, having been charged with disturbing the peace. They were denied bail in a Magistrate’s Court hearing earlier this week.

“We are very concerned about the welfare of these two courageous women,” said Mr. Eddie Makue, SACC General Secretary. “We trust that they will be treated humanely. We fear that the current political and human rights climate in Zimbabwe is not conducive to their receiving a fair and expeditious trial.”

“It is ironic that those who are working for peace are charged with disturbing it, while those with the power to promote a true and just peace seem to have no interest in doing so,” Makue added. “The Zimbabwean authorities should know that the eyes of the world are upon them. They will learn the same lesson that South African Prime Minister JG Strijdom learned: You have struck a woman, you have struck a rock.”

He noted that the Council’s Executive Committee had called on all of Zimbabwe’s political leaders to involve civil society in negotiations to resolve that nation’s political impasse. “Incidents such as the attack on WOZA heighten our concern that ordinary Zimbabweans will be the ones to suffer if the country’s social compact is nothing more than a self-serving agreement among political elites,” said Makue.

For more information, contact: Mr. Eddie Makue, General Secretary (082 853 8781)