Free Williams and Mahlangu appeal

The four WOZA women arrested in Harare yesterday have been released on bail. The badly injured activists appeared in Harare Magistrate’s Court this morning. After an initial argument by the state that they should be denied bail, the women were released on bail of USD 10 each and remanded out of custody to 2nd July. Their defence lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, applied for, and was granted, an order for the police to explain the injuries that all four women sustained. They are currently receiving medical attention.

In Bulawayo, the seven members that have spent the last two nights in police custody appeared in Bulawayo Magistrate’s this morning. The state, through the investigating officer, Moyo, has spent all morning arguing that they should be denied bail until Jenni Williams’ arrest has been secured. The state is arguing that Williams should be charged as an organiser because of remarks that she made at a public meeting last week that WOZA would roll out peaceful protests until all Zimbabweans receive social justice. The magistrate is due to give her ruling on the bail application this afternoon.

In order for WOZA members and all Zimbabweans to better understand what democracy really means in our everyday lives, WOZA has created a booklet that discusses the eight building blocks of democracy.

For the English version, please click on the following link: Building Democracy with WOZA

For the Shona version, please click on the following link: Kuvaka Rusununguko neWOZA

For the Ndebele version, please click on the following link: Ukwakha Umbuso Ovumela Intando Kazulu le WOZA

At noon today, approximately 900 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise marked International Women Human Rights Defenders Day with a peaceful procession to the offices of the state-owned Chronicle newspaper in Bulawayo. No arrests have been reported as yet but as there is a visible police presence in central Bulawayo, this may change.

Jenni Williams, WOZA’s National Coordinator was briefly detained by a senior-ranking police officer during the march but was later released after a discussion about its legality. Williams insisted that Zimbabweans have the right to peaceful protest under the current constitution. Williams was also roughly jostled by the female officer during this exchange, resulting in the aggravation of an existing back condition that Williams has.

The aim of the peaceful procession was to launch WOZA’s consulted position on the COPAC constitution questions. The report is entitled ‘the rising of women means the rising of the nation – no more poverty and starvation, many sweating for a few to benefit’. A copy of the report is available below.

Five groups started from different locations in the city centre and converged on the offices of the Chronicle. The peaceful group sang as they marched and handed out copies of their views on the constitutional questions. Their songs included the lyrics, “there is an issue that we want to make public – our views on the constitution” and “as women we must rise up and stand firm for our views so that our country can improve”.

WOZA began a 15-month civic education process around the constitution in July 2009 involving the participation of 9,036 members (7,885 females and 1,151 males) in a phased training programme that culminated in a consultation around the COPAC questions, the responses to which have been included in the report. Participants were drawn from 37 urban areas in Bulawayo and Harare and 23 rural areas in Matabeleland and Mashonaland. The age range of these participants was 14 to 93 years.

The report has been formally submitted to COPAC. The procession today is the first in a series of peaceful marches designed to ensure the views of members are heard, respected and will be included in the draft constitution. Members selected The Chronicle offices as a target in their fight to pressure for free media and to express solidarity with the arrest and extended detention of Nqobani Ndlovu, a Bulawayo-based journalist.

29 November is a significant date for WOZA. It is International Women Human Rights Defenders Day and part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence. Furthermore, on 29 November 2006, hundreds of members were brutally beaten in Bulawayo and many arrested whilst peacefully launching the WOZA People’s Charter.

Whilst recognising the importance of the 16 Days of Activism, WOZA would like to insist that 365 days of the year be considered days of activism against gender violence. At no time, is violence against any individual acceptable.

This protest follows a victory for WOZA in the Supreme Court last week.  On Friday 26th, Justice Garwe, the Supreme Court judge of appeals, handed down a ruling on the 2008 challenge taken by WOZA leaders, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu. The verbal ruling granted that the two women had been wrongfully arrested and detained and, as a result, had their rights and fundamental freedoms violated. Justice Garwe also ruled that the state had failed to protect the activists from this abuse. The application for a repealing of section 37 (1) (a) (i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act was dismissed and the reason will be made available. More details are available below.

To read a full copy of the report submitted to COPAC, please click here: WOZA presentation to COPAC 29.11.10

A quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “Women are like teabags. We don’t know how strong we are until we are in hot water.” Amai Eleanor Roosevelt vanoti,” Madzimai ndivo masamba. Hatizivi kusimba kwavo kusvika vaiswa mumvura inopisa.” UEleanor Roosevelt wathi, “Omama banjengamahlamvu etiye. Abazi ukuqina kwabo baze babesemanzini abilayo.”

POWER TO THE PEOPLE BY MARCH 2008
AMANDLA EBANTWINI NGOMBIMBITHO 2008
SIMBA KUVANHU MUNAKURUME 2008

An open letter to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA)
Sometimes Available (ZESA)

We, the consumers of electricity, wish to advise you that your service is no longer empowering us but is draining our pockets. We are suffering under load shedding but are being forced to pay high rates. Some of us are being asked to fork out millions for metres. We are also losing our electrical appliances because of your unstable voltage.

Whilst we hear that ZESA is also a victim of the bad and mismanaged economy we hear that ZESA itself is also being mismanaged and there is widespread corruption. Some of your bosses do not pay these high rates, resources are being looted and no one is held accountable.

You were singing ZESA has come with the power – ‘ZESA yawuya nePower’ – saka ZESA yazoyenda nePower yacho? ‘IZESA isibuye lamandla kagetsi’ – pho aseyengaphi lawo mandla? We demand POWER to the people for real!

WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO PAY DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF LIVING AND WE DO NOT LIKE LIVING IN DARKNESS.

We demand to be treated with respect as your customers and demand the following:

1. Stop turning a blind eye to corruption in your company and deal with the criminals.
2. Make sure all those who are getting free electricity, including Government departments pay the same high rates as we are paying.
3. Do something effective to control your voltage; we cannot afford to replace our electrical property.
4. You have also dis-empowered our children who cannot study at night! You have killed our appliances! You have disrespected your customers. We demand that you find us cheaper firewood, candles and matches as we cannot afford to pay $5000 for one candle and $1000 for a box of matches. You are the ones who are not giving us POWER so you should pay for us to have candlelight.
5. WE DEMAND POWER TO THE PEOPLE by March 2008.

Yours, Mothers who are deeply saddened

AMANDLA EBANTWINI NGOMBIMBITHO 2008

Thina, abasebenzisi bamagetsi sifisa ukulazisa ukuthi ukwenza kwenu akusisuthisi kodwa kusidla izikhwama zethu. Sithwele nzima ngokuchitshwa kwamagetsi (load shedding) kodwa sibadala imali ephezulu. Abanye bethu bakhitshiswa inkalakatha zemali (amamillion) amameter. Impahla zethu ezisebenza ngegetsi ziyafa ngenxa yokuhamba kwamagetsi okungapheliyo.

Siyakuzwisisa ukuthi iZESA layo ithwele nzima ngenxa yomnotho omi kubi ngokutshaphazwa kwezomnotho, kodwa sidaniswa yikuthi kuleziphathamandla zenkampani ezitshaphaza impahla zingagqize qhakala.

Lalihlabela lisithi, ‘Zesa yawuya nePOWER’ saka ZESA yazoyenda nePOWER yacho? IZESA isibuye lamandla kagetsi’ pho asiyengaphi lawomandla? Sifuna amandla ebantwini ngeqiniso!

ASISENELISI UKUBHADALA NGENXA YOKUDULA KWEMPILO NJALO ASITHANDI UKUHLALA EBUNYAMENI .

Sifuna ukuhlonitshwa njengabasebenzisi bamagetsi ngakho sithi sifuna okulandelayo:
1. Yekelani ukwenza angathi aliboni ubudlwangudlwangu obuse kampanini lijezise izigangi zenu.
2. Libeleqiniso ukuthi bonke labo abathola Amandla kungela mbadalo kanye labakaHulumende bhadala okufana lathi.
3. Zamani icebo elingamisa ukuhamba kwamandla, Ngoba asenelisi ukuphinda sithenge ezinye impahla zamagetsi.
4. Seliphinde lathathela abantwana bethu amandla, Ngoba abasenelesi ukubala ebusuku. Selibulele impahla yethu! Lehluleke ukuhlonipha amacustomer enu. Sifuna lisidingele inkuni, amakhandlela lomentshisi, njengoba singenelisi ukuthenga ikhandlela $5000, umentshisi nge $1000. Yini elingasipha amandla Ngakho kumele lisibhadalele ukukhanyiselwa yisibane.
5. SIFUNA AMANDLA EBANTWINI NGOMBIMBITHO 2008.

Yithi, OMAMA BENU ABALOKUDANA OKUKHULU

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SIMBA KUVANHU MUNAKURUME 2008

Isu vashandisi vemagetsi tinoda kukuzivisayi kuti rubatsiro rwenyu harusina rubatsiro asikuti murikutotipedzera mari dzedu. Tirikutambudzika nekudzimwa kwemagetsi nguva nenguva asi murikutimanikidza kubhadara mari yakawanda. Vamwe tirikuto budisa makunun’nu emari kumameter. Uyezvetirikushaiwa magetsi pamusana pemichina yenyu isingashandi.

Tinonzwisisa kuti ZESA nayo inedambudziko remari pamusana pekutambiswa kwezvehupfumi. Tine kusuwa kukuru kuvakuruvakuru veZESA vanochambadza midziyo yekambani vasineyi nazvo.

Mayiyimba muchiti, ‘‘Zesa yawuya nePOWER’ saka ZESA yazoyenda nePOWER yacho? IZESA isibuye lamandla kagetsi’ pho asiyengaphi lawomandla? Tirikutoda simba kuvanhu zvechokwadi!

HATICHAKWANISI KUBHADARA MARI IDZI UYEZVE HATIFARIRE KUGARA MUCHIDIMA.

Tinoda kuremekedzwa sevashandisi vemagetsi uye tinoda izvirikutevera:
1. Regedzayi kutarisira kungemusingawoni hukororo kurimukambani muwone zvekuyita negororo.
2. Itai kuti vese varikuwana magetsi pasina mari yavanobhadara vanoverengera veHurumende vabhadare mari yakafanana neyatiri kubhadarawo.
3. Tsvagayi zvekuyita panyaya yekudzima kwemagetsi; nekuti hatizokwanisi kugadzirisa midziyo yedu inoshanda nemagetsi.
4. Matokanganisa vanavedu vasingachakwanise kuverenga husiku! Uyezve matowuraya midziyo yedu! Matadza kunyara macustomer enyu. Tinoda mutitsvagire huni dzakachipa, maKenduru nemechisi sezvo tisingakwanisi kutenga kenduru re$5000 nemechisi we$1000. Ndimi murikutinyima simba saka tipeyi chibani.
5. TINODA SIMBA KUVANHU MUNA KURUME 2008.

Tisu, VANAMAI VENYU VANEKUSUWA KUKURU

Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) received a call from a member, Miriam Dlamini in Makokoba, Bulawayo to report that 3 plain clothed police officers from the Law and Order Department of Bulawayo Central police station arrived at her home at 10am 12 June 2014. The officers were lead by one identified as Nyandende, mobile number +263 772 306 699.

The officers found her children playing outside and told them they wanted to search for ‘iSitshebo’ (relish or food. Also a slang term for someone who needs to be killed). The children told them they only have food in the fridge, but the officers insisted to enter without showing a warrant. They proceeded to search the home indiscriminately and finding no ‘food’ they took 3 booklets entitled ‘Building Democracy with WOZA’ from her book shelf. Their manner harassing, they asked for Miriam’s phone number. They subsequently called to harass Miriam demanding her attendance at Bulawayo Central within 30 mins.

Miriam is enroute there with a representative of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and WOZA is concerned at to how she will be treated or what the case could be about. Miriam has previously been arrested and is one of 13 members who were subjected to tribal insults and dumped at the cemetery during a peaceful protest about water shortages.

As this is the notorious Law and Order department who do not do health inspection for food on premises, WOZA assume this is harassment related to the recent Constitutional Court victory. WOZA leaders Williams, Mahlangu, Manjengwa and Madukani took the Ministry of Home Affairs, police commissioner and attorney general to court for conditions in Harare police cells.

Jenni Williams and Magodonga were finally released from Mlondolozi Prison at 9:30 am today, three weeks to the day they were arrested. Their bail had been paid yesterday evening but prison authorities would not allow them to be released, saying the prison administration was closed and it too late.

They are in fair health, suffering from lice infections and needing to visit the doctor but otherwise okay.

They bring with them horror stories of prison conditions and treatment in both Bulawayo (Grey Street) and Mlondolozi Prisons. For the first two weeks, the activists were in the remand cell in Yard One, which is according to prison regulations. Their treatment took a bad turn last week Wednesday when Magodonga was moved into the yard inhabited by dangerous prisoners, both on remand and convicted. Yard Two also accommodates 15 mental health patients. She was put in a cell with a patient that is allowed to wander around naked and was moved from Ingutsheni Mental Health Hospital for murder. She was unable to sleep at night due to the antics of this and other patients.

The extreme hunger experienced by most prisoners means that even orange peels and the scraps on dirty plates are fought over. There is also no privacy for the female prisoners. Male prison guards are allowed to wander around the female prison and can see into washing facilities. Prisoners in Yard Two are also stripped naked every day for inspection by prison officers as they are locked down. At least three minors (aged 15 and 16) were being kept in the same cell as Williams.

Williams and Mahlangu will appear for a routine remand in Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court on Monday 10th November.

WOZA is delighted that the state’s petty attempt to pervert justice has finally been overruled and looks forward to challenging these farcical charges. WOZA would also like to thank Kossam Ncube and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights for their support and their determination to secure the release of Jenni and Magodonga.

Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu would also like to thank everyone who lobbied for their release, sent messages of solidarity and kept them in their thoughts and prayers. Solidarity from friends inside the country and around the world went a long way to ensuring that their time in Mlondolozi Prison was made more bearable. They are in good spirits and looking forward to continuing the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe.

The seven members arrested in Bulawayo on Wednesday have finally been released on bail of USD 20 each. They have been remanded out of custody to 3rd July and have to report to their nearest police station every Friday. The Magistrate had tried to postpone the matter to Monday 22nd but the defence successfully argued against a postponement. The state then attempted to delay their release by saying that all clerks of the court were in a meeting all afternoon and that therefore their bail could only be paid on Monday. Fortunately Kossam Ncube, the defence lawyer, was able to secure their release by late afternoon. All were beaten prior to being arrested and have needed to seek medical attention for deep tissue bruising.

The four members in Harare have also finally been able to go home having received medical treatment. One woman has a broken finger, whilst another two are on crutches as they are unable to walk unaided. Maria Majoni has to return for further medical treatment for injuries to her ear. All have severe deep tissue bruising.

The four Harare members are required to report directly to the Law and Order Department every Friday. Both groups of activists, in Harare and Bulawayo, are charged under Section 37 1 a of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act – ‘disturbing the peace, security or order of the public’.

It has emerged that the woman with her nine-month old baby that had been arrested with the other four in Harare and then later released had been pulled out of the demonstration by riot police and taken to a room inside Parliament filled with police. They took the baby of her back, placing it on the floor at the side of the room before taking it in turns to beat the mother. She was later taken to Central Police Station where the other WOZA members denied knowing her until she was released.

WOZA is relieved that all activists have finally been released from custody but remains shaken by the brutality they received at the hands of the police. Attempts to hold the activists in Bulawayo hostage until Jenni Williams has been arrested and denying the activists in Harare medical attention as punishment are all the actions of a state that has no interest in changing its behaviour. Police officers like Mundondo in Harare and Moyo in Bulawayo continue to violate the rights of peaceful activists despite the fact that the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed in September last year promised commitment to human rights and the rule of law. The inclusive government continues to allow human rights abuses to rage unchecked and continues to disregard the best interests of its people. As the world commemorates International Refugee Day tomorrow under the theme – real people, real needs, the real needs of the Zimbabwean people continue to be ignored.

Tuesday 20 June 2006 is World Refugee Day. The theme this year is Keeping the Flame of Hope Alive

WOZA is marking this day because we are refugees in our own country. Our lives have been stolen but the flame of hope still burns. We demand the right to earn a living.

iWOZA inanza ilanga leli ngoba siyiziphepheli ezweni lakwethu. Batshontshe impilo zethu kodwa isibane sethemba silokhu sivutha. Sifuna ilungelo lokuziphilisa.

WOZA iri kucherechedza zuva iri nokuti tavavapoteri munyika medu. Upenyu hwedu wakabiwa asimwenje yetarisiro ichirikuvhira. Tinoda kodzero yekuti tirarame.

STOLEN LIVES – REFUGEES IN OUR OWN COUNTRY
The United Nations says living conditions have worsened in Zimbabwe, where most of the 700-thousand people who lost homes in mass evictions last year are still struggling to find shelter. United Nations housing expert Miloon Kothari says most of those displaced by President Robert Mugabe’s May 2005 eviction campaign remain homeless in resettlement camps.

An extract from the Amnesty International Report on Human Rights violation in 2005 reads:

“The government engaged in widespread and systematic violations of the rights to shelter, food, freedom of movement and residence, and the protection of the law. Hundreds of thousands of people were forcibly evicted during winter and their homes demolished as part of Operation Murambatsvina (Restore Order). Tens of thousands of informal traders and vendors lost their livelihoods and their ability to support their families as part of the operation. Despite overwhelming evidence of humanitarian need the government repeatedly obstructed the humanitarian efforts of the UN and civil society groups. The police continued to operate in a politically biased manner and police officers were implicated in numerous human rights violations, including arbitrary arrest and detention, assault, ill-treatment of detainees and excessive use of force. Freedom of expression, association and assembly continued to be severely curtailed. Hundreds of people were arrested for holding meetings or participating in peaceful protests.”

A witness describes what happens daily to those who refuse to become criminals and prostitutes and continue to try to earn an honest living:

“I am at Bulawayo Commuter Terminus, 9:30 am on 11 June 2006. A Bulawayo City Council truck parks – there are two occupants. Vendors start to run away, many leave their goods on the pavement. A young girl grabs oranges; a maize vendor manages to balance his tray carrying his fire used to roast maize cobs. The driver of the truck gets out and starts to help himself to ‘loot’. After 10 minutes, another eight men (two police officers in uniform) come to the T35 truck carrying vegetables, sweets, fruit and green maize. They load it all in. By this time the driver is standing next to me reading a newspaper, someone walks past and greets him so I discover his name is Mr. Ncube, he has a scar on his face. After all the loot is loaded, Ncube drives away. The vendors come back, the young girl has five oranges and some apples, and the man saved his toothbrushes, chewing gum and sweets and quickly lays them out to sell as if nothing had happened. Amazingly even the young man has his fire alight and is roasting maize for the next customer. What were their options – stay with their goods, get arrested and be forced to pay an admission of guilt fine of $250 thousand or run with what they could carry and come back to start again once the police have gone? Such is the life of a vendor in Zimbabwe.”

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• NICHOLAS GOCHE (Minister Labour & Social Welfare) – WE WANT THE RIGHT TO EARN A LIVING!
• JOYCE MUJURU – CHARITY SHOULD BEGIN AT HOME!

One year after Operation Murambatsvina (Zimbabwean Tsunami) started, many vendors are still harassed daily, their goods confiscated. Many brave enough to try to get vending licences are told they have to have Zanu PF party cards in order to register. With 80 per cent unemployment, the only hope for many Zimbabweans lies in their own sweat, selling whilst dodging police and council police who confiscate their goods without any recourse. We are yet to visit and sit in the lounge of a Operation Garikayi/Hlalani Kuhle house owner and congratulate them. As Zimbabweans still reflect and live through this ongoing Operation, our leaders caring thoughts are elsewhere…. On June 2, 2006 The Herald reports that Vice President Joyce Mujuru said Zimbabwe will assist Indonesians who suffered from the devastating earthquake that rocked that country killing thousands and leaving many people homeless. The Zimbabwe Government did the same two years ago when massive tidal waves (tsunami) killed thousands other people and left many people homeless. She said “It is our cherished hope that the people of the Republic of Indonesia will once again recover from this setback with the usual determination to move forward.” Whilst the women of WOZA are in full solidarity and sympathise with our Indonesian brothers and sisters, Mujuru must know that charity begins at home! We are happy to know that the Indonesians will be able to get the help they need without interference that Zimbabweans affected by Murambatsvina will not be able to get.

What do we want from our Government? WE DEMAND OUR RIGHT TO EARN A LIVING WITH DIGNITY!
In Zimbabwe we know that our government will not allow international humanitarian organisations to help provide us with the basic needs of a refugee. They try to control who benefits and unless you have a Zanu PF party card you cannot benefit. So we know better than to ask for food. Even when some of us were to receive tents, the president refused saying, “We are not tent people”. We are not even asking for charity – all we are asking for is our right to earn a living because without that right and the right to keep what we earn, there is no right to life. See the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Article 22:

1. All peoples shall have the right to their economic, social and cultural development with due regard to their freedom and identity….
2. States shall have the duty … to ensure the exercise of the right to development

See Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Article 14:

“State parties shall take appropriate measures ….that they participate in and benefit from rural development and ensure the right: (e) to organise self-help groups and co-operatives in order to obtain equal access to economic opportunities through employment or self employment.”

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Ndebele translation

• NICHOLAS GOCHE – SIFUNA ILUNGELO LOKUZIPHILISA!
• JOYCE MUJURU – UNCEDO LUQALA NGEKHAYA!

Sifunani kuHulumende wethu na? SIFUNA ILUNGELO LOKUZIPHILISA NJALO SIZOTHILE! Siyazi kamhlophe ukuthi uHulumende wethu kasoze avumele inhlanganiso zamazwe onke jikelele ezisiza abantu, ukuthi zisinike ukudla kwansuku zonke njengoba siyiziphepheli. Bayazama ukuvimbela esingakuthola njalo nxa ungelalo uphawu lwenhlanganiso yeZanu PF awutholi lutho. Ngakhoke siyazi kancono kulokucela ukudla. Lanxa abanye bethu babezathola amatende, umongameli wala wathi, “Asisobantu bamatende thina’. Kasiceli ukufunzwa – esikucelayo lilungelo lethu lokuziphilisa ngoba nxa lingekho leli ilungelo, lelungelo lokugcina inzuzo yethu, akulalungelo lempilo. Khangela ugwalo lweAfrican Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Article 22:

1. Abantu bonke balelungelo kwezomnotho, impilakahle lokukhulisa isiko labo kukhangelelwe ukukhululeka lobuntu…
2. Uhulumende ulomlandu …….. wokunanza ilungelo lengqubekelaphambili

Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Article 14:

Amabandla abusayo kufanele enze izinqumo ezikhusela …ukuphatheka njalo babelokuzuza okuthile ekukhuliseni abahlala emakhaya njalo babone ukuthi lelilungelo liyaqutshwa: (e) baqoqe inhlanganiso zokuzincedisa lokusebenzela ndawonye (cooperatives) ukwenzela ukuthi kube lokuthola okulinganayo kuzigabazomnotho ezigoqela ukuqatshwa kumbe ukuzisebenza.

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Shona translation

• NICHOLAS GOCHE – TINODA KODZERO YOKUTI TIRARAME!
• JOYCE MUJURU – CHIDO CHINOTANGIRA MUMBA!

Herald yemusiwa 1 June 1981 mushakavanhu Eddison Zvobgo vakatsanangura vachiti “Vanotengesa havafanirwe kukashamedza kuswikira vatarisi vendzimbo dzavanotingesera vagadzira pekutengsera pakajeka. Madzimai aya akashangurudzika izvo zwinofanira kupera”. Zwinenge ayitaura arimuguva rake Musiwa 1 June 2006 kuHeroes Acre. (Vonai Standard Sunday Views Chris Mhike)

Zwatinoda kuvha kuhurumende yedu? Tinoda KODZERO YOKUTHI TIRARAME KUNEMUTSIGO!

MuZimbabwe tozviziva kuti hurumende yedu hayitivumiri kuti pawanike zwino diwa nevapoteri zvakakosha. Vanoedza kuti hapana zwaumowana kana usina Card re Zanu PF. Saka tinoziva zvirinani panekukumbira chikafu chero! Kamwe vedu vayifanirwa kupiwa matende, President vakati “atizi vanhu vematende”. Hatizi kana kukumbira rubatsiro chariuda kodzero yekurarama nekuti pasina kodzero iyoyo nekodzero yekuchengetedzera zvakakwama hapana kodzero kuupenye. Tarisai Africa Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Article 22:

1. Munhu wese achava nekodzero munezwematongero enyika munezweupfumi, nezwechinyakare, kuti vabudirire ndokuti vawane kuzwitonga nekuratidzika sevanhu. Uzhinji ruchava nedano rekuwona nekushandisa kusimudzira kodzero.
2. Vatungamiri vanofanirwa kuona kuti makodzero evanhu anosimukirwa.

Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Article 14:

Vatungamiri vanofanira kuva nemazano akarurama kuti vave nerubatsiro rekusimudzira kumusha kuti vavi nechokwadi nekodzero: (e) Vaite zwirangwa zvekuti vabatane mune zweupfumi bachiita mabasa emawoko.

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Four candles burn in a room, those of us listening can hear the candles talking. The first one said, “I am PEACE. In April 1980 I burned so brightly, but I cannot survive the sighs of those killed during Gukurahundi.” With those words, its light died. The second candle said, “I am LOVE. I too burned brightly in 1980 but there is a terrible wind blowing over Zimbabwe since the 2000 Election and I cannot stay lit.” Flickering briefly, its flame perished. The third candle said, “I am FAITH but even I cannot withstand the smoke and dust of houses and dreams destroyed by Murambatsvinas’ bulldozers.” A deathly hush fell as its glow also went out. The fourth candle, its flame weak, whispers, “I am HOPE. If only Zimbabweans would come and lift me up, together we can relight PEACE, FAITH, LOVE, the other candles can shine again!” The flame of hope should never go out of your life … each of us must help to keep HOPE alive. Fear can hold you prisoner; hope can set you free. There are no hopeless situations; there are only hopeless people. Ukwesaba kungakwenza isibotshwa, kodwa ithemba lingakukhulula. Akulasimo esingelathemba abantu yibo abalahla ithemba. Kutya kungakuchengetedze semusungwa asi tarisiro ingakusunungure. Hapana zvisina tarisiro, munhu chete asina tariro.

AT noon today, 600 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe marched to Parliament in Harare to mark International Peace Day. 25 members were arrested at Parliament (most of them handing themselves in) and taken to Harare Central Police Station. 58 more handed themselves in in solidarity with their arrested comrades after marching from Parliament to Harare Central. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have confirmed that the total arrested is 83, both women and men. They will spend the night in custody even though police officers are still not sure what charges to prefer or if they even have a case against the activists as most handed themselves in.

The aim of the peaceful protest was to highlight community safety issues and police behavior in communities. When the peaceful group arrived at Parliament, they handed over a list of demands for members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Police Commissioner and the co-Ministers of Home Affairs to police officers stationed outside Parliament. The full list of demands can also be found below.

Two members addressed the peaceful group outside Parliament explaining that tomorrow (21st September) is International Peace Day and using the example of the violence at COPAC consultations over the weekend to illustrate how Zimbabweans have little experience of peace. They called on the Zimbabwe Republic Police to allow Zimbabweans to be able to give their views of what they want in a new Constitution without violence and called on police to arrest those that threatened others or used violence.

Bystanders were overheard supporting the protestors – commenting on the violence shown by police officers in recent weeks and how police officers should be ashamed of themselves for not being the ones to keep the peace.

WOZA members have been worried about the performance and professionalism of our police officers for some time. As a result, WOZA has observed their behavior in select communities in Bulawayo and Harare for four months.

WOZA members observed police officers beating suspects in public; harassing vendors and taking their goods for their own use, without any receipting; demanding and accepting bribes, both in public and at police stations; drinking in uniform in public, sometimes stopping to drink while escorting suspects who will be under arrest and making people under arrest ‘run’ in front of their motor bikes and/or horses to the police station. In Bulawayo, many police officers refuse to respond to citizens’ complaints if they speak in the Ndebele language, insisting they speak in Shona.

75% of people whose rights were violated during arrest reported damages, injuries and or loss of property. These incidents are common when one is arrested by the plain-clothed and municipal police.

A more detailed account of our findings can be found in the Woza Moya newsletter below. The investigations done during the four months is just a small part of what is happening and are a reflection of a poor relationship between police and the community. It is clear that police officers routinely violate human rights and do not follow proper protocols of arrest and detention. In this regard, they are not following the Zimbabwe Police Act, the ZRP Service Charter and ZRP Service Standards as well as regional and international standards and instruments.

These arrests come after many constitutional consultations in Harare over the weekend were marred by violence from ZANU PF youth. It is unclear how many, if any, of these violent youths have been arrested and yet 83 peace activists, asking police to work together with them to promote community safety, are the ones that have been arrested.

WOZA is currently suing the co-Ministers of Home Affairs over the filthy and inhumane conditions in Harare Central Police Station. By all accounts, conditions have not improved and are still soiled with human waste.

Please phone Harare Central Police Station on +263 4 777777 to demand that the WOZA activists be released immediately.

For the full list of demands and more information on WOZA’s observations of police behaviour in Harare and Bulawayo over the last four months, click here: Woza Moya Sep-10

For more information on the ZRP Service Charter, Service Standards or the SARPCCO Harare Protocol Code of Conduct, click on the following links: ZRP Service Charter, ZRP Service Standards, SARPCCO Hre Protocol-Code of Conduct