Members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) will in the next week launch an escalated phase of their free primary school education campaigning.

Members resolved to launch the campaign with a peaceful march. During the march, members will call on citizens to boycott paying school fees or levies. The government of Zimbabwe continues to show no goodwill to transition the nation into a full state funded basic education system. Additionally the state continues to neglect education budgets in favour of defence budgets as if it is at war with its own citizens. WOZA believe that Government and Cabinet continue to allow political power to supercede good democratic governance, and sound economic management systems and as such the ruling political elite must be held accountable by denying revenue. How many children could have been educated by the billions looted without any action.

Just this year alone the state will have received over a 100 million united states dollars in education related revenue but despite this they continue to undervalue education and the need to provide a decent regular wage for teachers.

WOZA members have studied state obligations and international instruments which clearly show that Zimbabwe cares less and less every year for the next generation to have an opportunity to learn.

a) The right to education enjoys protection in international law. Section 26 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) provides that, ‘Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory…’
b) The International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), in Article 13(2) (a) and (b), obliges states parties to make primary education compulsory and free, whereas secondary education “shall be made generally available and accessible”. Signing this covenant in 119 Zimbabwe had till 1993 to deliver this right intact for children but instead of progressively fulfilling this obligation the state is retrogressing.
c) The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) provides for the right to education in Article 28. Article 28 (1) (a) places an obligation upon States parties to make primary education compulsory and free, whereas article 28(1) (b) requires states to make secondary education available and accessible to the child.
d) Article 17 (1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights stipulates that every individual shall have the right to education.
e) Zimbabwe has canvassed these international law principles through domestication which means bring these international laws into local laws. The Zimbabwean Constitution provides for the right to education in Section 27 which states that ‘the State shall take all practical measures to promote free and compulsory basic education for children…’ Further in the declaration of rights, Section 75 entitles ‘every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe to a basic State- funded education…’ The Education Act in Section 4 demands that ‘every child in Zimbabwe shall have the right to school education’.

WOZA members believe the time has come to withhold revenue in the form of school fees and levies until the state truthfully and earnestly engages citizens on a plan of action to transition or fulfill its obligation on state funded basic education.

WOZA members will not only stage a peaceful march but have formulated a multi pronged strategy including an array of non violent direct action activities. This will bring the demand to all level of policy makers. WOZA have also secured legal partnership to draft a new Education Act. As the campaign is ongoing members will exposes violations of the right to education and document these so as to report Zimbabwe to the United Nations.

WOZA call on all citizens to participate in this way to hold the Government accountable and force them to the negotiating table with citizens. Enough is Enough!

Woza Moya August 2016

Magistrate Charity Maphosa denied bail to Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu today in Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court claiming that it would not be in the best interests of justice. The defence will lodge an urgent appeal to the High Court.

Maphosa stated in her ruling that there was not enough evidence to assert that Jenni Williams did not reside at her given address as claimed by the state but that there were pending cases against the two. As such, she maintained that they had not been honest when asked in court if they had any pending cases against them. All legal practitioners asked by WOZA however state categorically that if a case has been removed off remand, it is no longer pending. As such, neither Jenni Williams nor Magodonga Mahlangu have any pending cases against them.

Maphosa also stated in her ruling that as there were four cases with similar charges ‘pending’ against the two it was likely that they would commit similar offences again (even though the section of the Criminal Procedures and Evidence Act that she cited in her ruling only makes mention of violent crimes). She noted the political climate that is gripping the country and claimed that in such a climate ‘people are easily excitable’ and could be moved to violence if they saw such a demonstration. With this statement, the true reason for the denial of bail is clear. Once again ZANU PF has demonstrated that is determined to cling to power whatever the cost.

WOZA condemns the ruling of Magistrate Maphosa. We view it as further evidence that the judiciary has been politicised and that the power-sharing talks currently underway in Harare are a hollow sham. We call for the immediate release of Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu.

We remain committed to demanding social justice for all Zimbabweans regardless of the personal cost however and stand by the demands that led to Williams and Mahlangu being arrested. Zimbabweans are dying. They are being starved to death by a government that does not care for anything except power. We are in a national crisis and we need food aid now. We therefore appeal to our brothers and sisters in the SADC region to help break the political impasse so that Zimbabweans can get the food we so desperately need.

Useful telephone numbers:

Bulawayo Central Police Station: +263 9 72515/61706/63061/68078

Mlondolozi Prison: +263 9 64228

Bulawayo Attorney General’s Office: +263 9 77651/61603

Harare Attorney General’s Office: +263 4 781769/774586

Bulawayo Public Prosecutor: + 263 9 63173

At noon today, approximately 1,000 members of WOZA and MOZA marched through central Bulawayo to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. The peaceful protest also commemorated the anniversary of the 29 November launch of the People’s Charter last year where hundreds of members were brutally assaulted by riot police at Mhlahlandlela. The late Maria Moyo, who was holding the banner that fateful day last November and who recently passed away after the trauma of being abducted by police, was also in the minds and hearts of members today.

The peaceful group processed for four blocks from the High Court to Mhlahlandlela Government Complex, singing and chanting slogans. Despite the serious occasion, there was almost a carnival atmosphere with exuberant dancing and enthusiastic handing out of flyers to passersby. At Mhlahlandlela, the singing group was approached by two police officers, including the Officer Commanding of Bulawayo Central Police Station, Sithole. He informed them that they were too early to mark the 16 Days as the official government launch is only taking place tomorrow, 28th November, and that they should come back then. He then instructed the group to disperse.

Happy to have received an invitation to return to the streets by a police officer, the group obliged. They were escorted by uniformed police officers to the closest taxi terminus to ensure that everyone left peacefully however. Riot police also attended the scene but there have been no reports of arrests to date.

WOZA is pleased that our brothers and sisters in the police chose to respect the rights of WOZA members to demonstrate peacefully today and hope that this behaviour will continue in the future. We remember however that they have not always been so understanding but know that they also want the social justice contained in the People’s Charter and so encourage them to continue to side with their fellow citizens.

WOZA’s lawyers have finally been given a hearing in their appeal to the High Court against Magistrate Charity Maphosa denying Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu bail. The matter will be heard before Judge Ndou at 2.30pm this afternoon, 5th November. Despite it being an urgent application, the High Court has taken over a week to give a hearing date.

In the meantime, worrying reports have been received from Mlondolozi that Jenni and Magodonga have been separated and that Magodonga has been put in the same cell as mental health patients. As well as serving as a remand prison, Mlondolozi also houses convicted prisoners and mental health patients that have committed crimes. The apparent cause of this separation is that prison authorities believe the pair to be homosexual because Jenni was observed massaging medicated gel into the injuries Magodonga received when she was beaten.

Maria Moyo was born on 15 March 1950 in Gwanda. She died on 6 November 2007, aged 57 years. She was married with 9 children and her last born is a Grade 4 pupil. She left behind 12 grandchildren. She did her primary education in Gwanda at Siboza Primary School up to Standard 4. She joined the liberation struggle in 1970’s and went to Zambia and Botswana.She joined WOZA at its formation in 2003 and was normally in the front of the protests and normally one of the first to be arrested. She was arrested 10 times and was once kept in solitary confinement in Sauerstown Police station. Maria was often just picked up from her home for no apparent reason.

On 24 August at around 4 am, Law and Order officers known to WOZA arrived at her Mabutweni home. Even though her daughter and husband told the officers that she was very ill and tried to refuse them access, they insisted on taking Maria from her home in the freezing cold conditions of that day. Some of the officers involved in this abduction operation are Tshuma, Mthunzi, Masarira, Ncube, Mpofu, and three female officers, one called MaNdlovu. They took her to a bushy area at Khami Ruins and interrogated her and 5 others on the rocks overlooking the Dam. They threatened to throw her into the dam tied up with ropes and rocks.

When WOZA members Williams and Mahlangu visited her that day, she testified speaking in iSindebele, “I have never been so scared in all my life – they wanted to kill me. I became very cold and began to shake uncontrollably, the police became worried so they put me in the car and switched on the heater until the shaking subsided.” The sudden appearance of a white person carrying what looked like a camera bag is what made the police officers fear exposure and they took the 6 members and 18 month old baby home. But having survived the liberation war and despite medical treatment Maria never recovered.

Maria was laid to rest on 11 November in Bulawayo. She will be remembered for her ready smile even in the harsh jail conditions. She will be remembered for her courage and commitment. We will remember her as an outspoken defender of human rights and as our shero. May her soul rest in peace in a better place than the living hell of Zimbabwe.

SIX women arrested on Wednesday 18 May 2011 were finally located by lawyers who had to search go door to door at suburban police stations. They located them at 3 police stations, Sauerstown, Hillside and Donnington, split up in twos. The six are Teresia Phiri 45yrs, Janet Dube 45 yrs, Juliet Nyathi 29 yrs, Thobekile  Ncube 37 yrs, Sibekezele Nkomo 30 yrs, and Loyce Ndlovu whose age is yet to be determined. They had not eaten for 24hours as a result of being hidden away from lawyers and relatives.

Two of the women had been beaten upon arrest and had been prodded with a charged pistol until reaching the police station, 2km away from the arrest point. When arriving at Western Commonage police station, police officers compared their names to their ‘list’ of WOZA activists. They were then taken to Bulawayo Central where they were split up to the suburb stations.

WOZA has been aware that members of the ruling Zanu PF party were being asked to get the names of WOZA activists and give the names to the police. As political debate rages on about election dates and Zanu PF activists enjoy the freedom to move about forcing people to sign their anti sanctions petition, the politicised police force has been ordered to increase repression on human rights defenders. It is sad to note that the affordable electricity WOZA Defenders are campaigning will have more direct impact on ordinary people than the anti-sanctions petition of Zanu PF.

At 10 am this morning a police vehicle was seen in Iminyela suburb with Thobekile and Janet on board and they went to 3 homes trying to secure the arrest of further members. Finding the women not at home, CID law and Order Detective Assistant Inspector Chikango then arbitrarily arrested a hostage – 18 year old Professor Nkala, leaving a note for his mother Mavis Sibanda to attend the Law and Order Department of Bulawayo Central. Please call DAI Chikango Law on +263 9 72515

HUNDREDS of members of WOZA and MOZA marched peacefully through the streets of Mutare today to protest against the huge increases in water tariffs that have recently been introduced by the Zimbabwe Water Authority (ZINWA). There have been no reports of arrests so far.

Nearly 300 women and men marched for several blocks through the eastern city to the civic centre demanding access to affordable water and a more reliable service. Several bystanders rushed to join in the procession, some abandoning their selling, agreeing with the demands. The protestors also called for an end to violence against human rights defenders.

As they processed the group sang, “mvura yadhura ndomudana mwari yangu” (water is expensive, oh my god) and handed out flyers calling for an end to violence against women.

Police arrived at the civic centre after the group had dispersed. No arrests have been reported so far but known intelligence officers were seen monitoring events. After the last demonstration in Mutare in August, several members had their homes visited by police and illegally searched. It is expected that similar harassment of activists will occur in the coming weeks.

This is the fourth WOZA demonstration in Mutare and the third peaceful street action this month (the other two being in Bulawayo and Harare) to call for an end to violence against human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. WOZA has recently released a report documenting incidences of political violence against its members, the full copy of which can be found below.

In memory of Julia Chapeyama and Thembelani Lunga

The outbreak of cholera in epidemic proportions has brought Zimbabwe back to the attention of the region and the world.  Zimbabwe’s complex emergency, which is now causing so much suffering, taking lives and breaking the society apart at its seams, has been several years in the making. A key factor in creating a perfect environment for the breeding and spread of the cholera bacterium has been the neglect of essential services by the ZANU PF government over the years. But this has only been one effect of complete mismanagement and deliberate disregard for the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans. ZANU PF rule has brought a decline in basic standards of living for many years now; but in the months while Robert Mugabe has clung to power in the face of rejection by the people at the polls in March this year, the downward spiral has changed into a precipitous plunge.

In August this year, just when the first cases of cholera were being reported in Harare and Chitungwiza, WOZA undertook research designed to present a picture of the living standards of our members in Harare-Chitungwiza and Bulawayo.  Some of the results of that study are now available, and present a stark demonstration of the circumstances, which have provided the backdrop for the cholera epidemic.

Please click here to read the communique: communique-declaring-a-health-emergency-is-not-enough

STATEMENT 1

BULAWAYO CENTRAL C.R 1018/06/04
RIMAU KAMWAZA N.R 63-915017 T 63
AGE : 31YRS.

States:-
1. I reside at house number 1,6th Avenue Rose Camp and I am currently attached to Police
Reaction Group , which is based at Drill Hall , Bulawayo .I am stationed at Njube police station.
2. I know the accuseds persons , numbering eleven only in connection with this case.
3. On Saturday 19th June 2004 at around 1320 hours I was on patrol duty in uniform in town in the company of Sergeants Charinya and Ngandu . At that we came across a group of the accused persons toy-toying and singing at the corner of 8th Avenue and fife street .The accused were moving towards the northen direction and the group was so disorderly that some were on the pavement and others were on the road.
4. We saw that the actions of the accused persons was disturbing the smooth flow of both traffic and pedestrians and also causing much confusion to the general public. People were being disturbed of their normal activities as they gave way to the accused persons.
5. We stopped our vehicle and ordered the accused persons to stop and we then arrested them . I could not hear what the accuseds were saying in their singing since the vehicle was moving.
6. After having arrested the accuseds we took them to Donnington Police station .

Signed ….RIMAU KAMWAZA
Recorded on 21 / 06/04
TIME : 0930 Hrs
At :C.I.D LAW AND ORDER BYO
BY :D.A.INSP SAMAKANDE

STATEMENT 2

BULAWAYO CENTRAL C.R 1018 /06/04
CHARINYA CHARINYA N.R 12-047041 J 12
RES : No.2 Provost Building Rose Camp Byo
BUS :Z.R.P Hillside

1. I am a male aldult aged 32years residing at the mentioned address. I am employed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police and stationed at Hillside police station . Presently I am attached to Police Reaction Group based at Drill Hall.
2. I know the accused persons only in connection with this case.
3. On the 19th June 2004 I was on duty and in Uniform in the company of Sergeants Rimau And Ngandu. At around 1320 hours we saw the accused persons singing and toy-toying at the corner of 8th Avenue and Fife street . I did not get what they were singing .The group was so disorderly as some were blocking the pavement preventing other people from walking and others were on the side of the road disturbing the smooth movement of traffic .They were moving in the northen direction.
4. We saw that the actions of the accused persons was disturbing the smooth flow of both traffic and pedestrians and also causing confusion to the general public. People were being disturbed of their normal activities as they gave way to the accused persons.
5. We then stopped them and arrested them . I did not hear what they were saying in their singing .We then took them to Donnington Police Station.

Signed: CHARINYA .CHARINYA
Recorded on 21/06/04
Time 0956 Hours
At : C.I.D Law &Order Byo
By : D.A.Insp Samakande

CHARGES:

BULAWAYO CENTRAL 1018/06/04 4196-4206/04

BULAWAYO
TREDGOLD

SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE

C/S 3(2)(g) of this misc : offence act chapt 09:15:
ENCUMBERS OR OBSTRUCTS THE FREE PASSAGE ALONG ANY STREET ,ROAD ,THOROUGHFARE ,SIDEWALK OR PAVEMENT.

In that on the 19th June 2004 and at the corner of Fife Street and 3th Avenue the accuseds as listed on the schedule to the charge sheet ,one or more of them unlawfully marched in the street , singing and running in a mob along the pavements thereby obstructing the free passage along any street , road ,sidewalks or pavements……

ALT: C/S 7(c) OF THE MISC OFFENCES ACT CHAPT 09:15:
EMPLOY ANY MEANS LIKELY MATERIALLY TO INTERFERE WITH THE ORDINARY COMFORT ,CONVINIENT ,PEACE OR QUIET OF THE PUBLIC:

In that on the 19th June 2004 and at the corner of Fife street and 8th avenue Bulawayo the accuseds as listed on the (charge sheet) schedule to the charge sheet ,one or more of them unlawfully marched in the streets, singing and running in a mob likely materially to interfere with the ordinary comfort ,convenient ,peace or quiet of the public or which are likely adversely to affect the safety of the public or is likely to lead to a breach of the peace or create a nuisance or obstruction…………………….

Take the Step Poster 1

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.

Take the Step Poster 2

Ayifuni mina, ifuna thina – qhubeka
Kwete ndega, asi tose – yendera mberi
Together we can light the darkness – take the step – join WOZA today

Take the Step poster 3

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.