adminWomen Film Makers of Zimbabwe (WFOZ).
The women’s spokesperson, Tsitsi Dangarembga, who is also the WFOZ president, said the continued arrest of women at night by police was unwarranted.
“There is virtually no legal basis for the arrest of women at night on suspicion of loitering for the purpose of prostitution.
“This has caused a lot of discomfort for us as women because we can no longer move freely at night for fear of being arrested,” she said. Dangarembga castigated the police for being overzealous and having a culture of abusing power.
She said some members of the force demanded sex from women as a condition for setting them free.
“We have written a petition that we intend to deliver to the co-Ministers of Home Affairs expressing our grievances against the police,” said Ms Dangarembga.
The women argue that Section 23 (2) of Zimbabwe’s constitution clearly spells out the grounds for non-discrimination to include sex, race, tribe, place of origin, gender and marital status.
“We are concerned about the arbitrary arrest and harassment of women in Zimbabwe on grounds of loitering, soliciting, prostitution and harbouring of criminals while doing business during the evening,” reads the petition.
“The arrests smack of an inability of police services to freely and fairly protect all citizens.”
The petition also expressed concern at the apparent discrimination and stereotyping of Zimbabwean women by the State through targeting women during the arrests.
It said there was a deliberate naming of operations that targeted only women such as Chipo Chiroorwa, Chengetedza Hunhu and Dyira Bonus Kumba.
“We are aware that there is no law in Zimbabwe that allows for the arrest of women on the grounds of loitering. It is an infringement on the rights to freedom of
movement, association and enjoyment of full rights as Zimbabwean citizens,” reads the petition.
Women’s rights activist Ms Cleopatra Ndlovu asked what kind of law forced all women to be indoors by 8 pm everyday.
“Police should arrest thieves and robbers not women going about their business at night. Enough is enough,” said Ms Ndlovu.
However, Harare provincial police spokesman Chief Inspector James Sabau said that unless prostitution was legalised, arrests of the women would continue.
“Loitering for the purposes of prostitution brings the reputation and dignity of women into disrepute.
“As police, it is our duty to implement laws of our country,” said Insp Sabau.
He pointed out that no women were arrested during the day, while they targeted certain areas that had a reputation of being frequented by commercial sex workers.
Chief Insp Sabau also reiterated that the police did not arrest women only for soliciting, but men as well.
“I must point out that there is no curfew in Zimbabwe and women are free to go about their business. However, there are isolated cases where women were wrongfully arrested for loitering,” he said. He said the police would continue with their programme of removing prostitutes from the street.
Online Reporter