Political protest in Zimbabwe

The pro-democracy movements sweeping north Africa and the Middle East have inspired democrats the world over ( Around the globe , 21 February). Not so in Zimbabwe where 52 people were arrested on Saturday, 19 February, for attending a peaceful, legal meeting to watch a video about recent events. Those arrested include human rights, trade union and student activists together with the former Movement for Democratic Change MP, Munyaradzi Gwisai, director of the Zimbabwe Labour Centre in Harare. One of the detainees was pushed out of a second floor window resulting in a broken leg, some are HIV positive and in need of their life-saving medicine. All have been denied access to medical treatment, lawyers and proper meals. They face very serious charges of plotting "to subvert the constitutionally elected government" led by Robert Mugabe. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested and we call upon the Zimbabwean ambassador in London to put pressure on Patrick Chinamasa, Zimbabwe's minister of justice, to arrange for their release. Prof Alex Callinicos Kings College, London Jane Loftus Vice-president, Communication Workers Union Prof Jane Duncan Rhodes University, South Africa Prof Roger Southall University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Prof Elleke Boehmer University of Oxford Prof Robert Gildea University of Oxford Dr Anne Alexander University of Cambridge Dr Norrie MacQueen University of Dundee Richard Kuper London Salim Vally Senior researcher, University of Johannesburg Dr Carlo Morelli University of Dundee Dr Paul Blackledge Leeds Metropolitan University Colin Barker Manchester Metropolitan University Dr David Renton Barrister, London Ruth Hall Senior researcher, University of the Western Cape, South Africa Dr Horman Chitonge University of Cape Town, South Africa Dr Benjamin Selwyn University of Sussex Dr Owen Miller University of Cambridge Liam Campling Lecturer, Queen Mary, University of London Dr Jonathan Pattenden University of East Anglia Dr Satoshi Miyamura School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London Prof John Coleman University of Oxford Dr John Parrington University of Oxford Ms Daisy Cooper Director, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit Prof David Seddon Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit Dr Leo Zeilig Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit Dr Peter Dwyer Ruskin College, University of Oxford Dr Firoze Manji Pambazuka News Dr Sean Jacobs The New School, New York City. Prof Peter Alexander University of Johannesburg, South Africa Dr Daniel Moshenberg George Washington University, Washington, DC Dr Peter Waterman Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands Dr Gavin Capps University of Cape Town, South Africa Dr Samantha Ashman University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg Dr Claudia Ortu University of Johannesburg Dr Miles Larmer University of Sheffield Dr John Walker Ruskin College, Oxford , Dr Hilda Kean London Ruth Hall, University of the Western Cape, South Africa Lauren Basson University of Johannesburg Claire Ceruti Researcher, University of Johannesburg