In the course of our work supporting the human rights of persons in the Global South, IDEX stands in solidarity with several organizations and their representatives in their fight for justice. Today, we share a challenge and celebrate a victory.
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We have been informed via a press statement by WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise) that over 100 Hwange women attempted to march to the Hwange Colliery General Manager’s office to demand their husbands’ pay. The local police acted overzealously and arrested the ring leaders, using excessive force to disperse the women when the demonstration proceeded. Instead of engaging the peaceful women whose husbands have not been paid for 5 months, the company remained silent and no comments were made by the husbands whose wives were forced to take action.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Chitungwiza women were arrested and charged for ‘loitering’ for merely exercising their right to entertainment during the evening hours since October 4, 2013. In what was a blatant act of gender discrimination, no men were arrested or charged under this selective application of loitering laws.
SDCEA’s Desmond D’sa with some of the community members he works with