Eight members of WOZA were arrested in Pumula this morning whilst putting up posters in the high-density suburb. The group of women were putting up posters encouraging Zimbabweans to stand up for their child and vote in next week’s elections. They were taken to Pumula Police Station and questioned for 30 minutes before being released without charge.

Questions included why they were wearing t-shirts telling people to vote (they were wearing Crisis Coalition t-shirts which also urge people to vote on 29 March) and what Stand Up for Your Child means. They were finally told to stop encouraging people to vote – to leave that to the politicians – and released.

With one week left before the election, the arbitrary arrest of citizens who were not campaigning for any political party but merely exhorting people to exercise their democratic right to vote is yet another indication that next week’s polls are being held in an environment that is not free or fair. Nonetheless, WOZA continues to encourage Zimbabweans to be ready to stand up and be counted on 29 March – make your choice, cast your vote, register your protest.

To see a copy of the poster that the women were putting up when they were arrested, click here: stand-up-poster-3.pdf

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

The charges against the two WOZA activists that were arrested in Mutare in December were withdrawn by the State before plea. Magodonga Mahlangu and Clara Manjengwa had been charged under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 46, as read with Section 2(v) of the Third Schedule to the Criminal Code – ‘criminal nuisance’ after being arrested at a meeting in Sakubva on 6th December.

After spending two nights in police custody, the pair were released on bail of $5 million dollars each and were remanded to 21st December. When they appeared on 21st, they were further remanded to today, 18th January.

Following the court hearing, a closed meeting of WOZA members in Mutare was disrupted by Police Internal Security and Intelligence (PISI) officers in clear violation of the new Public Order and Security Act (POSA), which allows organisations to hold closed meetings of members without notifying the polic

 

In a surprising turnaround, the two WOZA activists were taken to court this morning and released on five million dollars bail each. They have been remanded to 21st December. They have been charged under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 46, as read with Section 2(v) of the Third Schedule to the Criminal Code: “employs any means whatsoever which are likely materially to interfere with the ordinary comfort, convenience, peace or quiet of the public or any section of the public, or does any act which is likely to create a nuisance or obstruction”.

WOZA would like to thank all those who put pressure on the authorities in Mutare to release the two women. Your continued support is appreciated.

The two activists are still in custody at Sakubva Police Station and it looks possible that they will have to remain in custody over the weekend. Attempts to have them taken to court and released have been foiled by Prosecutor Mutyamaenza who demanded a bribe to release them.

The Officer-in-Charge of Sakubva Police Station has also denied the activists access to their lawyer and food for a second day.

Please call Prosecutor Mutyamaenza on +263 20 64611 to demand that he order the police to proceed by way of summons.

Please also call Sakubva Police Station on +263 20 64212, 64717 or 63145 or the officer-in-charge directly on +263 20 60902 to demand the release of the two women

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.

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.

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.

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

NINE hundred and sixty members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) at 2pm on 6 May 2016 began 4 protest at separate locations in Bulawayo central business district. Police Reaction Squad of six had already been observed monitoring certain locations in the city since early morning.

At 9th Avenue and H. Chitepo avenue WOZA members remained undeterred and began their protest under the watchful eyes of the police officers who had no option but to escort the protest along their route. All four protest converged at the intersection 10th Avenue and H. Chitepo and began their final march to the Mhlahlandlela Government Complex. At the complex, the gates had been shut by security guards denying members access to deliver the petition and police officers quickly made formation blocking the entrance into the main gate at the complex.

In anticipation of this blocking tactic, WOZA leaders Jennifer Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu had earlier delivered to the Resident Minister and Provincial Education department an open letter to Minister of Primary Education, Minister Dokora.

WOZA members, proceeded to conduct their protest programme undisturbed at the entrance to the complex. The programme included a speech by Magodonga Mahlangu defining the message to the Minister and calling on parents to defend their children against state brainwashing. Members then sang the African national anthem ‘Nkosi Sikelela iAfrica’ and recited the ‘Lord’s prayer’ before peacefully dispersing and going to their homes.

At the government complex Police officers in civilian clothing parked by the Drill hall and watched the procession. Uniformed officers noted their presence and went to consult with them on what to do with the crowd. At this time another vehicle with 7 Reaction anti Riot police officers drove out of Drill Hall and also parked next to the vehicle with plain clothed officers. These officers also then asked for instructions and were told “vakanetsa tichavarova” shona for ‘if they cause trouble we will beat them up”. Another police officer who was driving our of Drill hall called the reaction police officers and gave an instruction that they should ensure the demonstrators are not blocking the entrance into Mhlahlandlela offices, he also emphasized that they should not beat them “musavarove”, he said in shona.

During the march and at Mhlahlandlela complex, members distributed the Woza Moya newsletter detailing the issue for members of the public. People put their hands out of cars to receive it and others came to their shop door steps asking for publication.

The activity cause debate amongst the general public with many people saying they had not understood what it was all about but now they had information, they would not allow their children to pledge. One foreigner from Malawi said the government had chosen a wrong time to implement new things as the people are suffering and are waiting for socio-economic development rather than nationalism stunts. Some said that the national pledge which is forced on children will not develop or change the economic and declining education system of the country so Minister Dokora must try something else instead.

After the closing slogan was shouted out members peacefully dispersed escorted by police officers until they reached the corner of Herbert Chitepo and 10th avenue.