We have unconfirmed reports that a protest march was planned for Wednesday 28th
May although we have had no details through normal channels. We are not sure
whether a march had started when arrests were made. The 14 will be brought
before court on Friday 30th May. We received a text appeal from Zimbabwe
today ’14 woza members arrested on wed still in Harare Central. Their
detention now illegal. Pls call Harare Central to demand their release’.
WOZA is currently demanding that their votes are respected. On May 5th
2008 several hundred WOZA members staged a Mothers day protest against
politically motivated violence following the March elections. 11 WOZA and
MOZA (Men of Zimbabwe Arise) members were arrested and 59 were injured,
either by police baton sticks or by the police vehicle ZRP 3039 M which
drove into the crowd. On the 19th May a follow up demonstration in Harare
was cancelled at the last moment for security reasons.
This is a crucial time for Zimbabwe – The regime is relying on fear to
maintain control but fear is a weapon WOZA is determined to neutralize. As
they sit in the cells because of their bravery it is important that the
regime knows that the world knows that they are there.
WOZA BACKGROUND
WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise) first took to the streets on Valentines Day
2003 proclaiming that
‘The power of love can conquer the love of power’.
Since then WOZA has conducted over 70 protests, suffered over 2,500 arrests
and hundreds have been brutally beaten. These front-line human rights
defenders are willing to suffer beatings and unbearable conditions in prison
cells to exercise their constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms.
WOZA Statement from fliers distributed 5th May:-
‘We, the mothers of the nation, have examined our existence and that of our
children and decided that enough is enough. We are deeply concerned about
the current political impasse. We also call on SADC, the African Union and
United Nations to show their solidarity for the people and respect that
Zimbabweans have already chosen a new president and that their vote should
count. The current government are trying to subvert the laws of the land and
allowing Mugabe to stay in power when he lost the election.  Change will
come. The people’s voices will be heard and respected. We just need to keep
standing strong.’
For more information on WOZA visit www.wozazimbabwe.org
Post published in: News