{"id":4194,"date":"2009-02-11T17:20:29","date_gmt":"2009-02-11T21:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pbs-wnet-preprod.digi-producers.pbs.org\/wnet\/wideangle\/?p=4194"},"modified":"2012-12-14T11:09:03","modified_gmt":"2012-12-14T16:09:03","slug":"underground-zimbabwe-demonstrating-under-dictatorship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pbs-wnet-preprod.digi-producers.pbs.org\/wnet\/wideangle\/video\/underground-zimbabwe-demonstrating-under-dictatorship\/4194\/","title":{"rendered":"Demonstrating Under Dictatorship"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zimbabwe under President Robert Mugabe has been widely considered a repressive political regime. With the government violently cracking down on voices of dissent, human rights activists are a rarity. But since its founding in 2003, one organization has succeeded in gathering more than 40,000 members who believe in the prospects of peaceful political change: Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). In defiance of repressive laws curtailing public gatherings, this women’s empowerment movement stages non-violent street protests to agitate for bread-and-butter issues. In Demonstrating Under Dictatorship<\/em>, we march with the women of WOZA in a public demonstration and hear their harrowing testimonies of being beaten by police in jail.<\/p>\n

Last October, subsequent to Robyn Kriel\u2019s filming, WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were arrested at a protest and charged with disturbing the peace. They may remain in custody until their trial date on February 26, 2009.<\/p>\n

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