WOZA women on the march in Harare today.

Approximately 600 members of WOZA and MOZA demonstrated for several blocks

to Parliament in Harare today. The peaceful group sang as they marched from

the Karigamombe Centre up Kwame Nkrumah Ave, past the offices of the United

Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to Parliament. Whilst riot police

stationed outside Parliament looked like they might try to beat and arrest

the group, they decided against it and the demonstrators dispersed without

incident. WOZA is still checking with its community structures that all its

activists have returned home safely but we can confirm that eight members

and two lawyers have been arrested. More information on these arrests will

be sent as it becomes available.

As they marched, the peaceful protestors sang Baba, tuma mweya (Father, send

the holy spirit to heal this nation) and handed out red roses, Valentine’s

cards, candles, matches and flyers to passersby. The group also briefly

stopped outside the UNDP offices to give UN workers roses and Valentine’s

cards to thank them for all their efforts in assisting people through the

humanitarian crisis.

When the group reached Parliament, having peacefully processed past a group

of riot police that was trying to decide whether to arrest them or not, they

also delivered red roses and Valentine’s cards to a number of Senators and

Members of Parliament that were standing at the entrance. They also left

their placards and flyers at the entrance before dispersing.

In January 2009, WOZA and MOZA launched a new campaign – Take the

Step/Qhubeka/Yendera Mberi, designed to encourage Zimbabweans to continue

with the civic participation that they demonstrated in March 2008. The

campaign is based on the premise that in March 2008 Zimbabweans began a

journey towards a new socially just Zimbabwe, a destination that has still

not been reached, despite the formation of a unity government. Life in

Zimbabwe is incredibly hard and we are still in the darkness. WOZA is urging

Zimbabweans not to just complain however but to light the darkness through

their actions and by continuing to be active in demanding social justice. By

allowing love to light the way, we can reach a socially just Zimbabwe. To

demonstrate love in action and to literally light the darkness, WOZA is

giving Zimbabweans candles and matches as part of the campaign to encourage

them to take the step of joining the movement. Candles and matched

distributed in the  demonstration today were finished very quickly due to

their popular demand. WOZA will therefore gratefully receive any donations

of candles, matches and roses for the campaign. More information on the Take

the Step Campaign can be found below.

For the last few weeks, members have been mobilising in underground meetings

for the first public demonstration of the campaign, Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is traditionally an occasion that WOZA has used to urge

Zimbabweans to choose love over hate and marks the 7th anniversary of WOZA’s

birth.

Members in Harare decided to hold their Valentine’s protest before the

swearing in of the new unity government, which is set to happen tomorrow, to

test whether the so-called unity is genuine and will open space for the

people of Zimbabwe to dialogue with their leaders about the priorities

facing government.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediation process excluded

the voices of ordinary Zimbabweans. Furthermore, when Zimbabweans spoke

through the ballot in the 29 March 2008 election, SADC chose to ignore the

results and the killing and mutilation of Zimbabweans that followed. This

week SADC orders resulted in the passing of a power-sharing amendment to the

constitution leading the way for a complicated dual power system of

governing Zimbabwe.

Whilst it is too late for Zimbabweans to input into this awkward inclusive

government, people can put pressure on them to prioritise humanitarian

issues, like food access, the health delivery system to prevent further loss

of life and the emergency situation regarding the collapsed education

system. As we march we will be saying telling politicians ACTIONS SPEAK

LOUDER THAN WORDS.

For more information, please call Jenni Williams on +263 912 898 110 / +263

11 213 885, Annie Sibanda on +263 912 898 112 or Magodonga Mahlangu on +263

912 362 668. Alternatively email wozazimbabwe@yahoo.com.

Please note that we are still experiencing problems with both our website

(www.wozazimbabwe.org) and our email address info@wozazimbabwe.org. Please

do persevere as it should be corrected soon. Campaign material can be

located on the website one it is back up. If the problems persist and you

are interested in receiving electronic copies of the campaign materials,

please email us on wozazimbabwe@yahoo.com and we will be happy to send them

to you.

Take the Step – Qhubeka – Yendera Mberi!

In March last year, Zimbabweans displayed incredible courage and came out in

large numbers to vote for change. Their action meant that Robert Mugabe and

his ZANU PF party lost the elections. WOZA asked people to stand up for

their child in 2008 and they did – the people of Zimbabwe took the step that

was needed. It was not enough to carry us to the new Zimbabwe we dream of

and voted for however.

Taking the Step in 2009

In 2009 Zimbabwe remains in the dark. Zimbabweans carry an even heavier

burden and daily survival needs superhuman effort.

But WOZA realizes that we cannot keep complaining about how tough life is

and DO nothing to change the situation!

If we want a better life, we need to do more than just complain. That is why

at the beginning of 2009, WOZA is asking Zimbabweans to continue with the

action that they took in March 2008.

This week Zimbabwe is supposed to get a new, inclusive government. After

almost a year of no functioning government, we wait to see what they will do

and hope that they will bring us the better life that we dream about. We

look forward to having a government that will listen to people. But the

inauguration of a unity government does not mean that we have achieved our

goals or that life will immediately get better.

As Zimbabweans we cannot just sit back and wait quietly to see what this

government will do. As citizens of this country, we have a right to say how

we should be governed and what the priorities of the new government should

be.

WOZA is therefore urging all Zimbabweans to stay focused on the dream of

social justice for all – as outlined in WOZA’s People’s Charter. It is

POSSIBLE to get to a new Zimbabwe. But we cannot give up before every child

is in school and everyone has enough to eat. There is still a long road

ahead and walking alone in the dark is tiring but it gets easier if you walk

with others. If we let love light the way and walk together hand in hand, we

can light the darkness and help our new government deliver the social

justice we deserve.

Layitha ikhandlela libe linye kulokusola ubunyama – qhubeka Baka kenduro

rimwe panekusvora rima – yendera mberi It is better to light a single candle

than to complain about the darkness – take the step.

Ayifuni mina, ifuna thina – qhubeka

Kwete ndega, asi tose – yendera mberi

Together we can light the darkness – take the step – join WOZA today

Uthando luthando nxa kulezenzo – qhubeka Rudo rudo kana kune zviito –

yendera mberi Love means action – take the step – join WOZA today

Solidarity actions

To demonstrate love in action and to literally light the darkness, WOZA is

giving Zimbabweans candles and matches as part of the campaign to encourage

them to take the step of joining the movement.

Giving or lighting candles is therefore something that friends and

supporters around the world could do to also be part of the movement.

WOZA is delighted to know that solidarity events are being planned in

London, Canada and South Africa for Valentine’s Day this year. If you are

interested in knowing more details of these actions, please email us at

wozazimbabwe@yahoo.com and we will direct you to the appropriate group.

Alternatively, you could always organize your own solidarity action with the

women of Zimbabwe on Saturday 14th February 2009.

WOZA is also looking for brave witnesses to be with us as we conduct our

peaceful protests around Valentine’s Day in Zimbabwe.

Post published in: Politics