Breaking news from WOZA – Urgent Appeal
Reports have just come in from Bulawayo that human rights lawyers have been chased away from their clients and have been threatened with assault. We have been asked by lawyers to launch an urgent appeal as before they were chased out of the station, some youth indicated that they were being tortured.

Several people in custody are in urgent need of medical assistance following the beating they received during the arrests. They are being denied treatment.

In Harare, the number of arrests has been confirmed at eight. They are being held in Harare Central. Human rights lawyers were in attendance but have not been able to gain access as police are currently taking the particulars of those arrested.

Please call Bulawayo central on +263 9 72515/ 61706 and demand that lawyers are allowed access to WOZA members and that those that require medical assistance receive it. Please also demand that police stop torturing innocent men and women.

Two thousand members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA) took to the streets of Harare and Bulawayo today – a day ahead of Valentine’s Day hoping to catch the police napping. The peaceful protests marked WOZA’s fifth Valentine’s Day procession. At present reports indicate that over 274 men and women and 20 babies are in police custody in Bulawayo and about 10 women in Harare. The Bulawayo protesters were arrested with real-life images of Presidents Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, who were about to be presented with copies of the People’s Charter in a ceremony outside the state-owned Chronicle.Several prominent civic leaders were present at the demonstrations, including Dr Lovemore Madhuku of the National Constitutional Assembly.In Bulawayo, a heavy police presence indicated that police were expecting WOZA and the protest had to start under the nose of uniformed and plain-clothed police. Riot police swooped towards the end of the protest at the offices of the Chronicle and brutally beat up members. It is estimated that over 1,000 women and men marched three blocks through Bulawayo handing out Valentine’s cards, red roses and copies of the People’s Charter to passersby.Lawyers have been deployed to attend to those in custody and attempt to get in medical attention to those who need it. The walking wounded that were not arrested are currently receiving medical attention.In Harare, the protest started with a handing over of a letter to representatives of the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) and Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) asking them to assist Zimbabweans in getting political leaders to deliver the People’s Charter. The UNDP offices was where the first Valentine’s protest took place five years ago when WOZA named then Secretary General, Kofi Annan, as their Valentine.WOZA activists affixed three real-life images of Presidents Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara to the wall outside Takura House. Copies of the People’s Charter were then figuratively ‘handed over’ to the Presidents – symbolizing the need for responsible leaders to deliver social justice.

The peaceful demonstration then moved on to Parliament, singing in Shona, ‘your term is up – you have stayed too long’. As the group neared the entrance, riot police fired tear gas canisters into the crowd. Initially the crowd retreated but then bravely regrouped, stood their ground and threw back the tear gas canisters; hitting the Parliament walls and sending those watching from the parliament balcony scurrying back into the building. The group, which included many leaders, sat down to await arrest but found police only interested in firing tear gas. The song then changed to ‘police do not harass us’. Eventually leaders decided to declare a victory and disperse.

As they dispersed, the activists continued to toyi toyi (fast march/dance) into Sam Nujoma St, past the Herald offices into First Street. The protest was then officially dispersed outside the police post in First Street. In spite of this, a group of several hundred continued to toyi toyi towards the Zanu PF offices but were blocked at Chinhoi Street by riot police with dogs. Several members were arrested at the scene but it is unclear if there any members were attacked by the police dogs. Eight members were arrested in Kwame Nkrumah Street near the UN offices.

WOZA would like to dedicate this day to the contribution of Zimbabwean activists to a non-violent struggle for social justice – we salute your non-violent discipline and spirit of love. We call on the state-owned Chronicle and Herald to honestly cover the events that occurred right on their doorsteps in honour of journalist ethics. To the Zimbabwe Republic Police we say – your children will also one day enjoy the social justice we fight for. Aluta Continua – Woza Moya!

WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu appeared again in the Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Phathekile Msipa on 15 December to hear whether their application for a removal off remand would be considered.

Magistrate Msipa allowed defense lawyer, Kossam Ncube, to apply for the pair to be removed off remand. The state represented by police prosecutor, Lovemore Chifamba, opposed the application.

Mr Ncube argued that it was a curtailment of the duo’s liberty to be kept on remand indefinitely whist awaiting a ruling from the Supreme Court. He also cited a letter received from the registrar of the Supreme Court stating that ‘the matter in the lower court is automatically suspended until a determination of proceedings is made by the Supreme Court’. He argued that the matter was heard in the Supreme Court on 4th June 2009 and the written ruling promised by 7th July but nothing has been forthcoming to date.

In his argument against a removal off remand, state prosecutor, Lovemore Chifamba, argued that one of the cases for trial was a 2004 matter. He claimed that Williams and Mahlangu ‘travel a lot’ and had been impossible to locate for the matter to go to trial, so if removed off remand the state would not be able to summons them to appear in court. He attempted to convince the magistrate that the ruling from the Supreme Court had been promised to the Director of Prosecutions by the end of the year but provided no proof of this undertaking.

Magistrate Msipa will make her ruling of the application for the pair to be removed off remand on Friday 18th December 2009.

Williams and Mahlangu have appeared in court on remand 21 times for these charges since they were arrested on 16 October 2008. The only time they missed their remand hearings was on the first three occasions when they were still in Mlondolozi Prison and the state failed in their duty to present them to court as they had no fuel.

Leaders of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA/MOZA) today met with the co-Ministers of Home Affairs, Kembo Mohadi and Giles Mutsekwa. The meeting was requested through the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). The human rights defenders were accompanied by Dzimbabwe Chimbga from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

The two hour meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs, Mr. Melusi Machiya and three other unnamed officials. Surprisingly, Registrar General, Tobaiwa Mudede was also in attendance.

The ministers advised that they had called the meeting after receiving numerous reports from law enforcement agencies regarding the activities of WOZA. Minister Mutsekwa opened by advising that the motive of the meeting was to “bring WOZA and the ZRP to equal terms, restore harmony and to remove discord and suspicion”. The minister went on to mention that the power sharing government is negatively regarded locally and internationally as an oppressive government as a result of WOZA’s negative publications and that this is affecting their ability to attract investors.

Minister Mohadi admitted that the police had been accused of being partisan in the past which had led to the sharing of the Home Affairs ministry. He stressed that Zimbabweans should obey their laws fully or if they do not like the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), which is on their statute books, they should lobby parliament for amendments. He went on to say that when the ministers had come into office they had announced to Zimbabweans that the time for squabbles is over and that they should desist from any activities that could jeopardise the inclusive government and that WOZA should have taken their cue from that. He also insisted that WOZA should put their trust the police as they are supposed to keep order. .

With that introduction, they asked the WOZA delegation to respond. National Coordinator, Jenni Williams related that at first WOZA had notified police of their intention to hold peaceful demonstrations. Police interpreted ‘notify’ as ‘apply’ and that had lead to police trying to refuse our right to assembly. At one stage they had threatened that they would shoot to kill if members went into the streets. Williams also mentioned that police do not comply with POSA regulations as regards how to disperse a gathering, be it lawful or unlawful, but use excessive force. Williams also advised that WOZA does not need to notify police as it falls under POSA exemption schedules as a non-political organization. In this regard, WOZA has successfully defended its right to assembly in seven trials.

At this point a legal argument began which continued for over 30 minutes with the ministry interpreting the exceptions to suit their demand that WOZA must notify before their demonstrations. Despite clarity that a ‘gathering’ included a procession or a demonstration, and therefore exemptions applied, the ministers were adamant that exemptions do not apply to a demonstration. This matter remained unresolved and Minister Mutsekwa insisted that the legal matter be argued between the Attorney General and Mr. Chimbga.

In closing the meeting, Minister Mutsekwa lectured on the “need for peace and tranquillity in the country and we have to correct the wrong impression that we are a lawless country.” “We ask you to start to obey the country’s laws so that investors start coming in and we can all benefit. There is a bigger picture than your issues. We are going to call a press conference about our meeting with you.”

With those comments they then declared that if WOZA notify police before any demonstrations, both ministers would not be found wanting in personally disciplining any police excesses. Implicit in this statement is the threat that if WOZA continues to exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly and their exemption under the Public Order and Security Act, they will continue to allow the police to ignore clear instructions for dispersing a procession covered under law.

WOZA’s legal opinion remains as follows: the Public Order and Security Act currently provides the law for the maintenance of public order and security in Zimbabwe. Under Section 2 of the Act, a public gathering is defined as a “public meeting or a public demonstration”. Sections 23, 24 and 25 outline the procedure to be followed by a convener who intends to organize public demonstrations as defined under the Act. At the end of the Act appears a schedule of gatherings to which sections 23, 24, 25. Of particular relevance to this situation is paragraph (i) of the schedule which excludes “any club, association or organization which is not of a political nature and at which the discussions and matters dealt with are not of a political nature’ from having to give any notification.

WOZA therefore clearly falls within the provisions of section (i) of the schedule and is not obliged to give notice whenever it has its peaceful processions on issues which are non-political in nature.

WOZA values the opportunity to directly engage with the co-ministers and acknowledges the time they spent discussing with us. We will continue to stand firm on our right to enjoy fully our freedom of expression and assembly without hindrance. And in so doing, know that we are obeying the letter of the constitutional provisions and the unfortunate Public Order and Security Act. Peaceful protest is not the only means by which WOZA members choose to engage with their leaders about issues that affect them in their daily lives. In a country where democratic space remains limited, however, we the ordinary people of Zimbabwe will continue to grab any space possible to get our voices heard.

Eight protests took place at Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) offices across Bulawayo this morning, demanding ‘power to the people’. Approximately 100 WOZA members have been arrested so far.

At 8 am this morning, WOZA members assembled at eight different ZESA offices – Pumula, Mpopoma, Entumbane, Tshabalala, Magwegwe, Nkulumane, Nketa 6 and Luveve – holding simultaneous ‘tough love’ protests. Over 500 members from 16 different areas of Bulawayo took part in the community-level protests.

The protests at Magwegwe, Entumbane, Nketa 6 and Mpopoma took place without incident and the participants were able to disperse before police arrived. At Pumula, approximately 70 members as they were dispersing (the police station is next door to the ZESA office.) They were taken to Pumula Police Station before being transferred to Bulawayo Central Station.

At Luveve, members had protested and were beginning to disperse when police arrested people some distance away from the ZESA office, as they were catching transport back to their homes. Approximately 20 people are being held at Luveve Police Station.

At Nkulumane, nine people were arrested at the ZESA offices and are being held at Tshabalala Police station. Lawyers have been called and are trying to get access to those arrested.

The protests signify the launch of the ‘power to the people’ by March 2008 campaign. Today’s protests began with members queuing up as the offices made to open. They then marched in and handed over protest notes and either sat or stood inside and outside the offices until addressed.

In Luveve and Entumbane, officials attempted to divert the protesters by saying someone was coming to address them whilst making hasty calls to the police station. In Nkulumane, nine members were loaded into a cream Nissan pick-up, registration 846-101 Z by plain-clothed officers.

In all the areas the protest notes and placards were delivered to the local ZESA offices but officials told the peaceful protesters to go and protest at the town office, as there were no officials with authority to address them present. As members dispersed security guards were seen collecting up the protest notes and placards.

The contact numbers for the police stations are below. Please call and ask why innocent men and women are being arrested for addressing legitimate consumer complaints to their service provider, ZESA.

Bulawayo Central on +263 9 72515
Luveve +263 9 520801/2/3
Tshabalala +263 9 496755

31 July 2013 Situation Room Press Statement – 2pm
Voting Issues (voting irregularities, voter integrity, identification issues)
I. Special Voting issues-Chief Assembly Polling Station, Umguza: About 400—500 uniformed and plain clothes police in queues as special voters, possible intimidation and slowing down process
II. Gwanda Ward 1: Police in the queue but do not appear on voter’s roll
III. Stanley Hall and St. Patricks Primary School: Separate queues for Special Voters, slowing down the voting process.
IV. Voters Registration identity details appearing in more than 1 ward’s voters’ roll, thus risks of double voting
V. Registered Voters turned away for various reasons; not appearing on the voters’ roll among other issues. Magwegwe Creche most registered voters were turned away for not appearing on the voters’ roll, issue resolved at around 0900hrs
VI. Inkuba Pry School in Nkayi North, voting proceeding but no means to check Special Voters and Ink detector without batteries
VII. KoDlamini, Mbuhulu, Tsholotsho 100 people voted by 1000hrs; 4 people turned away, 1 registered in another ward and the other 3 without proof of registration.

ZEC staffing Issues
I. Unverified: Umguza Ward 19 Nyamandlovu Primary school, polling officers teaching people to vote behind the polling booth
II. Voting very slow at Mhali Primary School with one copy of Voters’ Roll and voters are surprised at the number of elderly people in the queue who have not brought their own assistants thus having to be assisted, Mazwi primary school in Magwegwe and Paddonhurst Centre.

Polling Station Administration (opening/closing times)
I. Hlangabeza Secondary Sch, Nkayi South: Ink has not yet arrived, voting not yet started as at 0900hrs
II. Number 1 Iminyela Polling Station, Ward 12 Helemu Primary School opened were delayed, Pelandaba Hall opened at 7.30am, Makokoba opened at 7.15am at JB Shopping Centre.
III. Sengezane polling station in Gwanda central – ballot boxes and ballot booths were not on site by 6.30am.
IV. Ntepe, Gwanda central ward 14 no ballot boxes at polling station at 6am
V. Polling stations varying in terms of lengths of queues. Some polling stations with long queues some with short queues within the same constituency. (issue of inadequate advertising of polling stations)
VI. Datata primary school in ward 2 Gwanda – police officer inside polling station at 7.43am.
VII. There are two voting points at Amhlophe high school and polling station opened at 7.30am. 6 police officers outside polling station.
VIII. Filabusi primary school polling station opened late at 7.30am.
IX. Newton West at Jocks supermarket polling station. First person to vote at 7.20am.
X. Lighting in Tents: Northend and Tshabalala Extension, Joks Tent in Newton West – it is dark inside the tent.

Security Issues (intimidation issues, harassments, fear and tension)
I. Many polling stations report police officer inside the polling stations, e.g Datata Pry Sch in Gwanda, Ward 2, Bulawayo Ingubo Pry Sch A, Ward 2
Positive Issues
I. Nkankezi primary school polling station in lobengula ward 14 opened at 7am. Ballot papers were there by 7am. All party polling agents present. Polling officials 95 men and 5 women)
II. Magwegwe ward 29 opened at 7am.
III. Elderly people being assisted by people of their choice

Other Issues
I. Posters within 50m radius of polling stations, e.g Ntshamathe Pry, @ 0715 posters not yet removed from about 50m from polling station gate. Insiza beer garden posters were removed after 7.00am under police supervision.
II. Council Candidates for Gwanda ward 1 and ward 10 reportedly denied time to analyze voters’ roll on the 30th of July, 2013
III. Some political parties with more than one agent in each polling station, e.g. in a polling station in Nketa, 3 agents requested two to be inside and one to be ‘turned’ into an observer.

Members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) have refused to participate in the government dictated school pledge programme.

Members, adults and child human rights defenders met on 30 April and 1st May 2016 and shared knowledge of what school officials instructed children and their parents to do at close of the last school term.

Members resolved to refuse to participate and will refuse to give their consent to their children’s participation on the following basis.
1. There was no consultation of themselves or their school development association representatives.
2. The wording of the pledge is problematic to christians even if it is paraphrased from the preamble of the Constitution.
3. To sequence the saying of the pledge immediately following the Lord’s prayer borders on blasphemy.
4. To force children to therefore make a pledge or oath violates many sections of the Zimbabwean Constitution.
4. WOZA is a movement of nonviolent human rights defenders who believe in democratic solutions to develop Zimbabwe. Forcing children to salute the flag militarises and brainwashes them and such an act should not be allowed by any responsible parent.

WOZA members views are captured in the attached newsletter and members commit to the included plan of action. WOZA Moya April 2016 I wont Pledge

Members of WOZA and MOZA held four community-based protests in Harare and Chitungwiza today, taking to the streets of Domboramwari, Glen View, Kuwadzana and Makoni Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza.

In Domboramwari, 100 women and men marched from the main water point to the shopping centre, carrying balloons that read ‘Stand Up for Your Child’ and handing out flyers urging people to vote in the coming elections. The group chanted slogans in the shopping centre for some time before dispersing without incident.

In Chitungwiza, approximately 150 people marched several hundred metres to Makoni Shopping Centre, again handing out flyers and generating much excitement from the Saturday-morning shoppers. As the group was dispersing, a ZANU PF campaign vehicle and police vehicles were seen driving towards the group. At the time of writing, the welfare of Chitungwiza demonstrators is still being ascertained. The song being sung in Shona by the marchers was ‘our children want food, schooling – police, if you harass them, we will be on your backs’

In Glen View, a group of approximately 50 people began marching from Glen View 3 Shopping Centre. It soon became clear however that the balloons and the flyers being handed out, which include children’s games, were causing great excitement amongst the children in the area and many children rushed to join in the procession. As more and more children joined in, it was decided to disperse the procession before it reached the agreed end point as there were concerns for the welfare of the children should police approach.

The final demonstration of the day was held in Kuwadzana where about 75 women and men marched for several hundred metres to Kuwadzana Shopping Centre. Again the peaceful group, with its carnival atmosphere, attracted great attention from shoppers in the market and in the centre. Bicycle police were observed attending the scene shortly after the crowd dispersed. The song being sung in Shona by the marchers was a duet by WOZA and MOZA. The song depicted a child asking their parent to pay school fees and both parents saying there was no money, with the father saying he only had enough money for one pint of beer.

The peaceful protests were to urge people to ‘Stand up for your Child’ and to encourage Zimbabweans to vote and to vote wisely for candidates that will deliver a future for the children. WOZA has taken a position to mobilise Zimbabweans to vote for any candidate that they feel will deliver social justice rather than follow blindly party loyalties.

Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Republic Police in clear contravention of their powers under the new Public Order Security Act (POSA), banned toyi-toying yet did not seem to pay too much undue notice to the peaceful WOZA demonstrations.

To see the flyer that the demonstrators were handing out to passersby, click here. Stand Up for Your Child flyer 3

WOZA, the acronym of Women of Zimbabwe Arise, is an Ndebele word meaning ‘come forward’. Now with a countrywide membership of over 75,000 women and men, WOZA was formed in 2003 as a women’s civic movement to:

• Provide women, from all walks of life, with a united voice to speak out on issues affecting their day-to-day lives.
• Empower female leadership that will lead community involvement in pressing for solutions to the current crisis.
• Encourage women to stand up for their rights and freedoms.
• Lobby and advocate on those issues affecting women and their families.

The WOZA solution – TOUGH LOVE
Based on the principles of strategic nonviolence, through our actions, WOZA creates space to allow Zimbabweans to articulate issues they may be too fearful to raise alone. WOZA has conducted hundreds of protests since 2003 and over 3,000 women and men have spent time in police custody, many more than once and most for 48 hours or more. These frontline human rights defenders are willing to suffer beatings and unbearable conditions in prison cells to exercise their constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms.

WOZA was formed to be a litmus test proving that the power of love can conquer the love of power. ‘Tough Love’ is our secret weapon of mass mobilisation. ‘Tough Love’ is the disciplining love of a parent; women practice it to press for and to bring dignity back to Zimbabweans. Tough Love is a ‘people power’ tool that any community can use to press for better governance and social justice, especially for Zimbabweans. Political leaders in Zimbabwe need some discipline; who better to dish it out than mothers!

Enter the men!
In August 2006, at the WOZA National Assembly, it was resolved to form Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA) and this wing has been growing steadily. Men, mostly youthful, are ‘coming forward’ to join the non-violent struggle for a better Zimbabwe.

WOZA and Social Justice
During 2006, WOZA carried out consultations on social justice across the country. In 284 meetings, almost 10,000 rural and urban people told us what they want in a new Zimbabwe. We wrote down what they said and the result is the People’s Charter.

Read more about WOZA’s social justice campaign and the People’s Charter.
Read about WOZA’s campaigns.
Read the latest edition of the WOZA newsletter, Woza Moya or one of WOZA’s publications.

Sungano Yemadzimai (Sisterhood Bond)

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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 : ………………………………………

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