WOZA celebrates victory

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^{MORE than 800 members of Women Of Zimbabwe Arise and Men Of Zimbabwe Arise}

(WOZA/MOZA) last week marched to Parliament in Harare to launch the Peoples’ Charter.
Two groups started at different locations in central Harare, converging on Parliament at the
same time. Upon arriving at Parliament, the two groups were met
by riot police and arrested.
Police held the group of approximately 350 people, who were sitting peacefully, for more than
an hour in front of the Parliament buildings before unexpectedlyreleasing them.

Police held the group of approximately 350 people, who
were sitting peacefully, for more than an hour
in front of the Parliament buildings before unexpectedly releasing them.



WOZA/ MOZA members were made to sit for more than an hour under police guard 
whilst riot and uniformed police were seen conferencing and seemed to be in a dilemma 
as to what to do with the group.Several people, including parliamentarians, came out of 
the Parliament Buildings to observe the proceedings
and to read the placards the marchers were holding. Many took copies of the Peoples’ Charter.
Members had come from all around the county to join the march – from Bulawayo,
 Mutare, Chegutu, Gweru and some rural areas.
After the brutality with which police attacked WOZA members in Bulawayo two 
weeks ago, members had braced themselves for a similar response. They were surprised, 
however, to be told that they could go back to their homes
after being warned that they were demonstrating illegally and that they were not allowed to
 walk or even sit like they were doing!What was even more surprising was that Jenni Williams, 
WOZA’s National Coordinator, was invited to address the group before they dispersed.
At one stage a senior police officer asked the group who the leaders were and when he was 
told everyone was a leader, he took five members from the main group,
including two men and an elderly woman on crutches, loading them onto the back of a 
police vehicle and taking downtheir names.
A Human Rights lawyer who was on site questioned this and some time later the five were 
made to rejoin the rest ofthe group.The response to the Peoples’ Charter from Zimbabweans 
all over the world has been overwhelming and thatday was no different. Pedestrians in downtown
 Harare rushed to receive copies of the Charter from the marching groups 
and the only WOZA items that remain in custody is the Peoples’ Charter and placards 
– including those calling for 2008Parliamentary and Presidential elections.The reaction 
of the Zimbabwe Republic Police was a victory for WOZA’s
non-violent strategy and for the power of social justice.
 
 
 
The WOZA leadership would like to commend the Zimbabwe Republic Police for showing 
that they are human beings alsorequiring social justice in their lives. However, WOZA would 
also like to warn them that if they are turning over a new leaf it should be apparent every 
day, in the future.Having successfully launched the Charter in Harare and Bulawayo, 
WOZA is now planning to roll out launch demonstrations
across the country. We will be coming
to a town near you! Join us in demanding a socially just Zimbabwe.
For more information, please call Jenni Williams 
on +263 91 898 110 or +263 91 300 456 or Magodonga Mahlangu 
on +263 91 362 668
.