They grouped, gathered courage, split into two military like formations and yelled WOZA war cries as they bravely marched towards Parliament Buildings from different directions, to demand inclusion of their views in the constitution making process.
Battle hardened members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise, WOZA, attracted attention and envy of people going about their normal business in central Harare, Thursday, December 2 afternoon. They took police officers keeping guard at the Parliament House off guard, 12 mid day on the dot, and sang human rights songs at the main entrance to the August House. The gallant women braved threats from the police riot squad and left after dumping hundreds of copies conveying their demands in the constitution at the main entrance to the building.
Part of the leaflets read: As Zimbabwe joins the world to commemorate the 16 days of activism to end violence against women, for WOZA, November 29 is a special day for Zimbabwe women. We have selected to this day to launch our report to parliament on our constitutional outreach process.
Our theme is The rising of women means the rising of the nation-no more poverty and starvation, many sweating for a few to benefit. As we prepare our presentation to parliament, our country is suffering political, legal, economic and social collapse and we desperately need a constitution that will give us back our dignity, a constitution with laws and policies that make women and men equal and eliminates all forms of discrimination.
Time has come to address imbalances and oppression so that we can exercise our full citizenship and participate in and shape the nature and form of our democracy. As peace loving citizens we submit our views and demand that they be heard and respected. We look forward to a better life with dignity, peace and security that genuine constitutional reform can bring to our country.
In preparation for the expression of views in the constitution process, WOZA, consulted a total 9036 members, 7 885 women and 1151 men from 37 urban (Bulawayo and Harare) and 23 rural areas in Matabeleland. The targeted age group covered the 14-93 years range.
As a result of the violence and intimidation experienced in Zimbabwe both directly and indirectly in the meetings and within the general environment of intolerance which obtains in the country, members asked that we compile their views and present them to COPAC. We look forward to our views being respected and included in any draft prepared for a referendum.
The main constitution problem that Zimbabwe faces is the excessiveness of executive powers which were abused with impunity. We need to limit the executive powers, emphasize the separation of powers and provide adequate checks and balances to ensure that power does not come together in the hands of a single individual or small clique of individuals.
Among other views, WOZA maintained that people born in the country should be automatically Zimbabwean citizens. Citizenship is a right which should be protected from being withdrawn.
There should be no discrimination against people on the basis of race, tribe, culture or ethnicity, place of origin, birth, gender, age, religion, political opinion or affiliation, disability, HIV/AIDS status, marital status; pregnancy and sexual orientation. All must have equal status and capacity in the customary as well as civil law. Affirmative action should be allowed. A strong bill of rights should also include social and economic rights, all fully justifiable.
Among a host of women and gender issues, WOZA demanded that women should share in the decision making regarding the nature and frequency of sexual contact within marriage and intimate relationships. Marital rape must be a punishable offence under the criminal law. Women should also have a right to land and house ownership and equal allocation of land in communal areas. Demonstrating women called for inclusion in the constitution that every woman must be protected from political intimidation and threat to her person, and should have right to reproductive health and to abortion for medical reasons. WOZA members later staged a brief demonstration at Herald House before they disappeared into thin air.
Post published in: News