The 22 members of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) who were arrested on the 2nd February in Pumula have been release without charge. The women were arrested in a suburb of Bulawayo for discussing about the constitutional reform process in the country.

They stated that they have a right to freely participate in the reform process.

According to Assistant Inspector Chimani, the arrested women had already been released; he further apologized for arresting them, after he denied having knowledge of the situation.

Chimani revealed that the officers concerned did not know that they were WOZA members.

The women groups acknowledge the professionalism of the police, but call on the police officers to stop the arbitrary arrest of Zimbabweans.

WOZA was formed in 2003 as a women’s civic movement to press for better governance and social justice in that country.