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Women protesters held in Zim
24/04/2007 16:23 - (SA)
Harare - Dozens of women, some carrying babies, have been arrested in the Zimbabwe capital Harare for protesting worsening power shortages, said the organisers of the protest on Tuesday.
The 36 women, 20 men and 10 babies were rounded up on Monday after they held a sit-in at the offices of Zimbabwe's main power company Zesa in the low-income suburb of Kuwadzana, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) said in a statement.
"They are currently being held at Harare Central police station, where they were moved under armed guard," said the group.
Simultaneous demonstrations
Simultaneous demonstrations by hundreds of Woza supporters took place in two other Harare suburbs but there were no arrests and activists were able to hand over their petitions, said Woza.
Two of those arrested in Kuwadzana were beaten in police custody, it added. Police have not confirmed the arrests.
More than 80 Woza activists were arrested last week for staging 'Power to the People' protests in the second city of Bulawayo.
They were later released without being charged.
Zimbabwe is experiencing worsening power cuts in towns and cities countrywide due to a shortage of electricity in the region that has seen exports to Zimbabwe cut.
The cash-strapped southern African country is unable to generate enough of its own power due to a shortage of coal and its inability pay for repairs to generators.
- SAPA
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