Peaceful Assembly
Between April and June, the police consistently interrupted peaceful civil society gatherings in Zimbabwe. On 9 June, police arrested members of the Occupy Africa Unity Square movement after they had camped in the main public park in Harare for 9 days. Their aim was to camp in the park, day and night for a continuous 16 days as part of calls for president Robert Mugabe to step down. After being taken to court, authorities charged the protestors with robbery and obstructing the course of justice before they were released on bail on 16 June. Following their release, the group returned to Africa Unity Square to protest on 20 June when the police descended on them, beat them up and ordered them to disperse. On 16 June police blocked another protest and arrested some of the youth protesters who were protesting under the banner of "Tajamuka", a statement communicating their opposition to Mugabe's rule. The police arrested four protesters who were also injured during this incident.
Expression
Police arrested Patson Dzamara - the brother of disappeared activist Itai Dzamara - on 8 June after he held a press conference and showed the press what he said were pictures of his brother with a bandaged face in detention. He told the press conference that his brother had been abducted by the army. Meanwhile, police also arrested journalist Paidamoyo Muzulu while she was covering the Occupy Africa Unity Square protest.