Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise members celebrated another court victory this morning when the state withdrew charges that they participated in a public gathering with the intent to cause public disorder, breach of peace or bigotry when they demonstrated against monetary reforms.

State prosecutor, Mr Manata admitted before Magistrate Mr Msipha that he lacked evidence to support the case, and in some out-of-court drama the prosecutor was heard bearing down on the state witnesses for writing ‘useless’ statements, which he said were “too watery” to pin down WOZA.

Frustrated Law and Order officers were later heard planning that future strategies to stifle dissent by WOZA would include thorough beatings to cow the members. Another officer there replied saying, ‘But these do not run away, they will just sit down and wait for us to stop’.

Riot police arrested WOZA members, now joined by men (MOZA), as they were marching towards the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe offices in Bulawayo to hand over an open letter to Gideon Gono.

Many members, many of them minors, were tortured in the offices of the Police Law and Order Department, some by being made to sit on ‘air chairs’ and beaten under their feet.

This court victory by Advocate Perpetua Dube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is the eighth for WOZA which has said it wants to challenge the laws that are used by the state to keep Zimbabweans oppressed.

Members are now refusing to pay admission of guilt fines and choosing to take their cases to the highest courts if necessary, which puts the burden on the state to prove that people who are protesting peacefully against policies are guilty of any offence on Zimbabwe’s statute books.

WOZA leaders immediately declared today’s acquittal as a victory against Gono’s economic reforms which are impoverishing Zimbabweans.

“By withdrawing charges against us, we take it that it is a confirmation that Gono has a case to answer,” said a spokesperson adding, “You cannot criminalize the speaking of the truth. So we say once again to Gideon Gono – if you want to be a hero you must slash more than a zero.”