Against brute force and injustice the people will have the last word – that of victory. Che Guevara, South American revolutionary

STAND UP FOR YOUR CHILD

The election has come and gone and WOZA would like to pay tribute to Zimbabweans for the peaceful way they went out to vote and for the patience they have shown while waiting for ZEC to get their act together. A week has passed without the results and ZEC are taking our patience for granted. Some of us went to vote as a protest knowing that there was a high chance of the result being rigged or stolen. Politicians are trading insults and threats whilst Zimbabwe burns. When you read this, please think about your child and the dreams you had of a better life for them. Think about what your children are doing. Are they in school studying hard and doing well or sleeping on their desks without teachers? Are they queuing for water or looking for firewood? Or are they far away in a foreign land? Is this the future you imagined for them? As long as the results are held hostage we cannot get a new government and demand the social justice we need and deserve. For how much longer can we wait for the results when we have seen them outside polling stations and know that we voted for a change? Last week, people used the polls to speak out – but our voices are being ignored. Today is the day to take peaceful action to remind ZEC and politicians that WE, the voters, are the owners of the election and WE will not allow them to ignore us. We made our decision with our X and it must be respected.

Today is the day to end the silence.

YOUR CHILD EXPECTS YOU TO DO SOMETHING RESPONSIBLE AND PEACFUL TO DEFEND YOUR VOTE AND LIBERATE THE TRUE RESULTS.

Today is also the day that we continue our struggle for social justice.

Our vote last week was just another way in which we reminded our leaders that we want and deserve social justice which can be defined as a system where people have equal opportunities/access to social, economic, cultural, religious and political needs regardless of race, gender, creed or any other form of discrimination.

This is what we were thinking of when we went to choose our new leaders. We want leaders who prioritise the following:
· Full enjoyment of all social, political, economic and cultural rights
· An equal society including gender equality with full respect for all human rights including women’s and children’s rights
· Freedoms including speech, assembly and association
· Respect and tolerance of diversity – culture and religion
· Transparency and accountability
· Equal participation in political and economic decision-making
· Equal application of the law – access to justice and understanding of the law
· Correction of past injustices such as Gukurahundi and Murambatsvina
· Gutsaruzhinji/inhlalakahle yabantu (good living), including adequate and affordable food
· Access to affordable education
· Access to affordable housing, electricity, sanitation and clean water
· Access to affordable healthcare and medication including anti-retrovirals (ARVs)
· Equal and fair access to fertile land, inputs, equipment and secure ownership
· Equal opportunities to resources, employment, self-help projects and the right to earn a living wage
· Development of adequate infrastructure and access to affordable transport
· Environmentally sustainable usage of resources

As Zimbabweans we deserve the social justice that we talk about but we can only get it if we are prepared to stand up and demand it from our leaders. Make a start today.

Now is the time to keep standing strong for your child’s future.

AFRICA DAY 25 MAY 2008

RAMBA WAKASHINGA UCHIMIRIRA MWANA WAKO

Sezvo nyika dzese dzemuAfrica dzichipemberera zuva re Africa Day viki rino, nengo dze WOZA dzakaona kusina kukosha kuita izvi. Musi wa 25 May izuva rekupemberera kugarisana kwakanaka nekubatana kwe Africa, asi hapana chekupemberera sezvo wurombo uchienderera mberi nemakore atinofanira kurarama achidzika. Chii chiripo chekupemberera sezvo maZimbabwe avasisina kuvimba kuti kodzero ravo rekuvhota richaremekedzwa. Atisi kuona kuti vatungamiri ve Africa vachirikuremekedza hunhu vachiziva kuti vari vanhu navo vemu Africa. Vanhu vakaita savaRobert Mugabe naThabo Mbeki vanoziva kuti munhu munhu ne vanhu.

Robert Mugabe munhu – anoonekwa nechi bhakera.
Awa ndiwo mashoko atirikuda kuudza vaMugabe nemusiwe Africa Day:
Va Robert Mugabe takukuzivai nemhirizhonga yamurikuunza kwatiri – vanhu vemuZimbabwe. Tino remekedza zvamakaita kuti tiwane Zimbabwe yakanaka asimhirizhonga yamurikuita inowonekwa nemaratidziro enyu echibhakera anakunaka. Vanhu vekuMatebeleland nekuMidlands vaitsigira ZAPU vakauraiwa panguva yeGukurahundi pakutanga kwegore ra 1980. Vagari vekumunda wePorta vakasangana nayo mhirizhonga iyi navo sezvo vaitsigira va Ndabaningi Sithole.Muna 2000 vakatanga chirongwa chekutora mapurazi zvisiri pamutemo vechishandisa mhirizhonga vachida kuranga maZimbabwe akaramba kuiiswa kwezvigamba mubumbiro remitemo, naizvozvo atichawani kudya kwakakwana. Mugore raa 2005 kwakaitiwa chirongwa che Operation Murambatsvina apa vaida kudzikisa hutsigiri hwe Movement for Democratic Change sevzo taibva musarudzo dza 31March 2005. Takuona chimwe chirongwa chinonzi ‘Operation Mavhotera papi’ apa vairanga vanhu vakateedzera kodzero ravo rekuvhota. Tirikuda kuti murangarire vesi remu bhayibheri rinoti zvinu zvese zvine nguva yazvo saka remekedzai kuti ma Zimbabwe akavhotera mutsauko March.

Thabo Mbeki munhu naye.
Awa ndiwo mashoko atirikuudza va Thabo Mbeki:
Pamaka batana ruoko navaRobert Mugabe mukati ‘akuna chakaipa muZimbabwe’vanhu vemuZimbabwe nevemunyika yenyu vakashamiswa nekuita kwenu. Kusava nehanya kwenyu kwakaratidzika nekunonoka kwenyu kutaura zvirikuitka munyika yenyu apo vanhu vachirasikirwa neupenyu hwavo pasina zvabaka pama. Apo tichiviga varikuraiwa nemapurisa nevarikuuraiwa mu South Africa tirikuti ropa ravo ririmawoko enyu. Toda kuti muchengetedze hunhu hwenyu muchi vanhu chedu muchiita zvamunotaura. Muchirinenguva yokuti murarame zvakanaka.

Kwasara viki rimwe kuti tiyende musarudzo dzekusarudza mutungamiri wenyika asi mhirizhonga irikuenderera mberi zvakanyanyisa. Tichitarisa mabasa eWOZA tichaedza nenzira dzese kuti tiudze vanhu kuti vano vhota. Tichavaudza kuti vanyasowongorora kuti vaMugabe ivo banotungamira ‘bato rakarwa hondo’ vakundikana kuunza Gutsaruzhinji. Nekuramba kupudisa zvakapuda musarudzo nenguva nekutanga mhirizhonga kuvanu vakavhota zvino ratidza kuti kuramba kwake rusununguko ruzere rwakafirwa nemagamba edu kuti mumwe nemumwe achava ne vhoti yake. KumaZimbabwe ose nga tivotereyi vaMorgan Tsvangirai timupe mukana kuva mutungamiri naye.

ISU ZVIZVARWA ZVEMUZIMBABWE TINODA ZVINOTEVERA:
1.    ZANU PF inofanirwa kubvisa makempu e ma militia, voregedza mhirizhonga kuvana vemu Zimbabwe.

2.    Mapurisa ngavasunge vese varikukonzera mhirizhonga besingatyi.

3.    Tirikuti kuva tungamiriri vose varimumatongero enyika ropa rakateuka kuti mumwe ne mumwe ave nevhoti yake sakatichaenderera mberi neku vhota nekudzivirira vhoti yedu murunyararo.

4.    Tirikuti kuvarwiri verusununguko vechokwadi tibetserei kupedza mhirizhonga iripo nekutaura pachena varikupama mhirizhonga iyi muzita renyu

5.    Tinoda kuudza mapurisa kuti hakuna runyararo kana kusina kutongwa kwakanaka. Gamuchirai kuti maZimbabwe avhotera mutsauko saka regerai kushandiswa kuita mhirizhonga. Kana shanduko yauya yauya. WOZA ichada kuti pave nekuongororwa kwevashandi vemuhurunde zvichivatanidzwa nemapurisa nemasoja. Isu vagarisani nemi tinokuzivai nezvese zvamurukuita zvakaipa nezvakanaka hatizokanganwi tererai zvakanaka vakuru venyu vachawana zvakanaka zvakawanda kanavakusiyi basa vachienda kupenjeni asi imi muchasiiwa pachena makutongerwa mhosva dvenyu.

6.    Hurumende yeZimbabwe yogadzirisa zvirikudiwa ne SADC pakuita sarudzo vozo teedzera mirao yacho, ne ZEC yovumirwa kuita basa rao zvakanaka

7.    Tirikuti kune ZEC ngairatidze hunyanzi hwayo  nekusadeera kudivi rimwe rematongerwo enyika, vaone kuti zvapuda musarudzo zvabudiswa pachena ’24hrs’ kubva kuvarwa kwemabhokisi atavhotera.

8.    Tirikushedzera kunyika dzemu SADC, African Union ne United Nations kuti vatumire vanotarisa nezvesarudzo  munaraunda dzese dzeZimbabwe kuitira kuti tive nechivimbo chekuvhota. Vanofanirwa kutaura pachokwadi zvirikuitika ikoko

9.    Kuhurumende ye South Africa tirikukumbira kuti moisa pachena mutongo wevanhu vakatanga mhirizhonga [Xenopphobia attacks].

Tirikuda kutenda masangano akazvimirirra oga emuno nedzimwe nyika nekuratidza hanya kumuri ye Zimbabwe – vakazviita nekuratidzira ku Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa ne Botswana maviki afura. Tirikuva koka kuti ngavauye vazoongorora sarudzo dziriku uya  nekuti vagare vachitinamatirawo sezvo tasvika murima rekuedza

Zvekupedzisira tirikuudza vanhu vemu Zimbabwe kuti vave ne runyararo voona kuti vhoti yavo ichaveregwa muviki inotevera

Mirira ramangwana remwanawako nekuvhotera mutungamiri achaunza Gutsaruzhinji musi wa27 June 2008

YANGUVA YEMUTSAUKO

SEVEN members arrested in Bulawayo on Wednesday 17th June appeared on remand in Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court on 10 September. They had been remanded out of custody but were reporting to their closest police station every Friday. Defense lawyer, Kossam Ncube, successfully applied for their reporting conditions to be relaxed. They will reappear in court on 7 October 2009.

The activists are charged under Section 37 1 a of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act – ‘disturbing the peace, security or order of the public’.

Another matter still before the courts is the arrest of Jennifer Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu on 16 October 2008. The matter is still before the Supreme Court as a ruling promised in July is still pending. They will appear on remand in Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court on 14 October 2009.

Sungano Yemadzimai (Sisterhood Bond)

Download this document
– Word 97 version (145KB)
– Acrobat PDF version (78KB)

View the English version
View the Ndebele version

WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE ARISE – WOZA
P. O. Box FM 701, Famona, Bulawayo
By Women for Women and with Women, across Race, Colour, Creed, Class or Political Persuasion. Empowering Women to be Courageous, Caring, Committed and in Communication with their Communities.

WOZA SISTERS’
SUNGANO YEMADZIMAI

Zita rangu ……………………………………………………………………………………………

Ndirikuvimbisa kuti ndichabatsirana nemamwe madzimai. Tichabatana mawoko pakurwisa kuti ticherechedzeke pakudzosa Zimbabwe murunyararo, muutongo whakajeka, nebudiriro.

Apo kurwisa kuchienderera mberi ndichayeuka zvinotevera:

1. Kutaura nokukurudzira mamwe madzimai kuti aite saizvozvo kuti inzvi remadzimai rinzvike. Madzimai aafanirwi kushupika akanyarara.
2. Mukusanganira nevamwe tichi kurukura nezvinotishungurudza nokusimuka tichiita panekungo gununguna.
3. Kuva munyaradzi nomuteereri kusimbisana. “Kukurukura kunotapudza shungu nenhamo”.
4. Kuratidzira rudo no kusatya mudzimba medu nemu vavakidzani, ndichibatsira kubvisa kutya muvanhu.
5. Madzimai, mamai eZimbabwe yose. Saka, ngaa wane chiremera.
6. Kuva, mumiririri wezvinhu zvisina hukasha, kuratidza vanhu kuti tinogona kugadzirisa nyaya dzinotinetsa kusina vhingamupopoto.
7. Kuva ne chido chokubatana pakunzvirana nemadzimai anepfungwa dzakafanana.
8. Kukurudzira zviitiko zvinokururama muna mwari. Nokurarama pakumuziva.
9. Kumiririra kuva Democratic, nekuzvininipisa mune zvakawanda, zvinobva muvanhu.
10. “Kurwadzisiwa komumwe wedu, kurwadzisiwa kwedu tese”.

Ndinovimbisa!

Ndatsidzira : ………………………………………… Zuva: ………………………………………………

Mupupuriri : ………………………………………… Mupupuriri : ………………………………………

Copyright © 2004

The 14 members arrested on 28th May appeared on remand in Harare Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning (Friday 20th) and were further remanded to 3rd July. Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, who are still in custody at Chikurubi Women’s Prison, were remanded in absentia as the truck bringing them from prison did not arrive on time. Williams, who is facing extra charges of communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the state and causing disaffection amongst the police force, was also remanded to 3rd July on those charges.

Williams and Mahlangu are now entering their fourth week in prison. They remain in good spirits despite the conditions in Chikurubi. Lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers from Human Rights (ZLHR) are continuing to work on appealing their continued detention. The two would welcome visits from anyone who would be able to make it to Chikurubi.

Meanwhile, two other WOZA members, Trust Moyo and Cynthia Ncube, go on trial in Bulawayo on Monday 23rd charged with distributing materials likely to cause a breach of the peace after being arrested in a peaceful demonstration on 5th May.

Click here to see a copy of the appeal launched in the independent Zimbabwean press Free Williams and Mahlangu appeal

Sisterhood Bond

Download this document
– Word 97 version (145KB)
– Acrobat PDF version (78KB)

View the Ndebele version
View the Shona version

WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE ARISE – WOZA
P. O. Box FM 701, Famona, Bulawayo
By Women for Women and with Women, across Race, Colour, Creed, Class or Political Persuasion. Empowering Women to be Courageous, Caring, Committed and in Communication with their Communities.

WOZA SISTERS
SISTERHOOD BOND

My name is …………………………………………………………………………………………

I give my word that I will strive to stand up in support of my sisters. I will give ‘her’ my hand in support as we struggle together towards our rightful place as equals in society. Working together, hand in hand, we shall bring Zimbabwe back to peace, justice and prosperity.

As the struggle continues, I will remember the following guidelines:

1. To speak out and encourage other women to do the same, so that the female voice is heard. Women should no longer suffer silently.
2. To participate in peaceful assembly and meetings to discuss our challenges and to act rather than complain.
3. To be a comfortable shoulder to lean on or a listening ear. ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’.
4. To demonstrate love and courage in our homes and communities so that people can shake away fear.
5. Women are the mothers of the nation and must demand that Dignity.
6. To be a supporter of Non-violence so that people can see that problems can be solved peacefully.
7. To seek out and be in solidarity with like-minded women.
8. To be God fearing and encourage activities that promote spiritual health.
9. To support Democratic participation with tolerance for differing views and opinions.
10. “An injury to one is an injury to all”.

I give my word!

Signed: ………………………………………………………… Date: …………………………………

Witnessed by: ……………………………………… Witnessed by: ………………………………

Copyright © 2004

The 13 WOZA women and one man are spending another night in custody in remand prisons in Harare.  The State’s appeal against bail awarded in the magistrates court May 30 was due to be heard today.

However, the State only filed their arguments late yesterday afternoon, which meant the ZLHR lawyer representing WOZA could only submit their arguments this morning. Judge Hlatshwayo said that he needed time to read them and postponed the hearing until tomorrow.  If the State’s case fails, the members should be  released tomorrow.

If it succeeds, WOZA will continue to press for their freedom.  They are being unjustly punished without trial for exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression and assembly.

It has been established that eight members have been arrested, four women and three men. This number could be higher as reports that several members have not yet returned home are currently being investigated. Three members required medical treatment, including an elderly woman who was pushed to the ground by police causing her mouth to be injured. The arrested members are being held at Bulawayo Central Police Station. It is not known what charges they are facing.
 
One member was arrested before the protest began but her fellow protestors went ahead anyway, ignoring the plain-clothed officers present. The strategy of simultaneous multiple protests has become a signature of WOZA’s peaceful resistance and demand for delivery of promises made too lightly by politicians. A great spectacle was to be witnessed as the processions arrived in waves, coming from different directions.
 
One protest was due to start close to the police station as a test to see if they would respond with respect. The leaders of the protest changed the starting point at the last minute. In a show of courage they chose to start at the side of the police station, marching right by, turning to go to the appointed route. Many police officers looked out of windows and came out and shook their heads in amazement. It is thought that the police van that arrived at the Chronicle offices to beat the peaceful group came from the Central Police Station, meaning that they too over 10 minutes to respond.
 
One of the leaders was pulled out of the protest by an exited bystander who went on to explain that he had to tell her how exited he was to see WOZA putting pressure and asked her to keep it up. Other comments overheard from bystanders included, “police should leave these women alone and concentrate on real issues”; “these women are rocking the boat for change and accountability from our leaders”; “bravo WOZA, bravo, I bow before these women for their stubbornness about the problems we are facing.”

Once again three plain-clothes police officers tried to locate WOZA leaders Williams and Mahlangu but they were heard saying they could not locate them amongst the dispersing activists.

Songs sang by the activists included: “the sun is setting where am I going to sleep? I will sleep like a bird on the trees”; “we are filling up other countries – what is wrong?” and “we are going expose police harassment”. When the protest arrived at the Chronicle, the song changed to “men are failing to deal with the issue of the unity government’s inability to deliver a better life” and “the Chronicle does not want news!”

To read the demands that WOZA was marching for today, please see the Woza Moya newsletter below.

Please phone Bulawayo Central Police Station on + 263 9 71515 to ask why they it necessary to beat and arrest peaceful protestors and to demand the release of the WOZA activists.

At noon today, 500 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise marched to the offices of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), Megawatt House, in Harare. Three simultaneous protests converged at the ZESA headquarters where the peaceful group handed over ‘yellow cards’ to staff members of the electricity service provider along with a report that outlines WOZA’s demands.

The peaceful group waited patiently for management of ZESA to come and address them to no avail. Finally, riot police, armed with tear gas and shotguns arrived. ZESA security guards insisted that they arrest Jenni Williams, WOZA’s National Coordinator, who had been attempting to persuade management to come and address the crowd. Police officer initially demurred but the ZESA security guards insisted until the riot police arrested Williams. When the protestors saw the arrest of their comrades, many handed themselves in in solidarity, jumping into the police vehicles to ‘arrest’ themselves. Others followed to Harare Central Police Station where they also tried to hand themselves in but were turned away. Approximately 70 members are currently in custody in Harare Central Police Station, including Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu. Human rights lawyers are in attendance.

As with the peaceful protest in Bulawayo on Monday, the demonstration sought to put pressure on ZESA to provide a more efficient service and billing system and to stop taking advantage of economic problems to bill people excessively for a substandard service. The ‘yellow card’ serves as a month’s notice to ZESA to shape up or face ‘suspension’. WOZA/MOZA also threaten to mobilise for a ZERO service ZERO bill boycott.

The protestors received immense support from bystanders and from people who were at Megawatt House to complain about high bills. One resident of Glen View high density suburb showed WOZA leaders his monthly electricity bill of USD 1,681.50.

It is believed that there is absolutely no electricity in any of the police cells at Harare Central Police Station. This is obviously a cause for concern should the activists be detained overnight. Please phone Harare Central Police Station on +263 4 777777 to demand that the WOZA activists be released immediately.

To read a copy of WOZA’s yellow card, click here: ZESA yellow card

To read a copy of WOZA’s report on electricity services in Zimbabwe, click here: WOZA report on ZESA

For several weeks, WOZA members have expressed their deep concern about the failure of government schools to open. This follows on from distress about the quality of education that their children received in 2008. In the first 20 years of Independence, Zimbabwe’s education system and schools were the envy of Africa. In 2009, we do not have an education system to speak of.

WOZA research
In August 2008 WOZA undertook a survey of our membership. We interviewed a sample of more than 1,000 members in Bulawayo, Harare and Chitungwiza. We asked them about how they are living and about their children’s education. In February 2009, WOZA conducted further research on a sample of 377 members to determine the current status of their children’s education and our members’ ability to access food.

Please click here to read a report, from WOZA’s perspective, of the state of education in Zimbabwe. The state of education in Zimbabwe- a WOZA perspective

WOZA is sending a petition on the state of education to the new minister of education, Senator David Coltart. WOZA members are going door-to-door asking parents to sign. Please sign your support. Email WOZA to receive the petition at wozazimbabwe@yahoo.com and post the completed form to P.O. Box FM 701 Famona, Bulawayo.

Comments from parents on the state of education (February 2009):

“Children need good education but the problem is that our leaders do not show concern about it. They need to take steps about education.”

“I did not go to school but I need my children to go to school.”

“I am heartbroken because in years back we used to go to school even if we failed but our children are failing to go to school. This will destroy our children’s future.”

“It is painful to have an uneducated child.”

“I want my grandchildren to learn so that they finish the poor life I am living.”

“There are no resources in schools whilst they are charging what they want without consulting parents and at the end of the day demanding us to pay teachers salaries.”