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Either copy and paste (if emailing) or print out (if faxing) this message and send it to the details provided below.

LETTER TO ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT

Zanu PF

I am writing because I am appalled and outraged to learn about the 22 women who were arrested on 15th January 2007 in Shurugwi for protesting against the poor salaries of their husbands working at ZIMASCO Mine.

The women were peaceful demonstrators and it is despicable that the Government have treated them this way. Some of the women protesting had babies and some were pregnant; it is atrocious that these people spent the whole night in cells. This treatment was made all the more deplorable by each protestor being fined $5 000, an incredibly high and unfair punishment for these people who are living in poverty. The fact that they were charged under POSA for illegally demonstrating in public is outrageous due to the fact they applied for the Police sanction which therefore legally allowed them to strategize and hold the protest.

We stand in solidarity with all the ZCTU members and protestors at the ZIMASCO mine who were so heavily fined and unfairly treated by this arrest. These women deserve full compensation, the right to peacefully protest and an acknowledgement of the atrocities of the Government and police force. The Zimbabwean Government’s draconian intolerance of critical opinion from members of the public, peacefully demonstrating against unfair employers is disgraceful and seeks not only to quieten dissent but also to cover up hardships faced by ordinary Zimbabweans.

With great concern,

………………………………………………

Send it to: Fax : +263-4-774146 - Email : [email protected]

Please Bcc [email protected] into all your correspondences, so that we can keep track on the action that is being taken. If you choose to fax your letter of support, please drop ACTSA an email to let us know.

From previous experience, faxing is the most effective way to act as Zanu-PF regularly changes their email address. If you do experience problems with sending the emails please do persevere, your actions are crucial!

Please ask all your contacts to do the same.

LETTER TO ZIMBABWEAN AMBASSADOR IN U.K

Dear HE Machinga,

I am writing because I am appalled and outraged to learn about the 22 women who were arrested on 15th January 2007 in Shurugwi for protesting against the poor salaries of their husbands working at ZIMASCO Mine.

The women were peaceful demonstrators and it is despicable that the Government have treated them this way. Some of the women protesting had babies and some were pregnant; it is atrocious that these people spent the whole night in cells. This treatment was made all the more deplorable by each protestor being fined $5 000, an incredibly high and unfair punishment for these people who are living in poverty. The fact that they were charged under POSA for illegally demonstrating in public is outrageous due to the fact they applied for the Police sanction which therefore legally allowed them to strategize and hold the protest.

We stand in solidarity with all the ZCTU members and protestors at the ZIMASCO mine who were so heavily fined and unfairly treated by this arrest. These women deserve full compensation, the right to peacefully protest and an acknowledgement of the atrocities of the Government and police force. The Zimbabwean Government’s draconian intolerance of critical opinion from civil society groups is disgraceful and seeks not only to quieten dissent but also to cover up hardships faced by ordinary Zimbabweans. We urge you to act against the continued atrocities of the current Government and make your disgust known.

Yours sincerely,

…………………………………………………………………………………

Send it to: Fax : 020 7379 1167 - Email : [email protected]

Please Bcc [email protected] into all your correspondences, so that we can keep track on the action that is being taken. If you choose to fax your letter of support, please drop ACTSA an email to let us know.

Please ask all your contacts to do the same.