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.

Anti riot Police deployed here, there and everywhere at street corners, attempt to disturb the Bulawayo Valentine’s Day protest. The police officers actively chased women away from each other as they tried to gather. A further two landrover vehicles with over 10 officers also drove helter skelter jumping from their truck to scatter groups of women. A 8 tonne truck was also stationed in Herbert Chitepo Street with a contingent of officers jumping in and out of the vehicle to scatter women.

WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, on foot to participate in the protest were followed by a double cab with 6 officers from the law and order department. These officers took countless pictures and video footage of the 2 leaders as they awaited the 1115am start time at one of the start point. They then followed the protest taking footage of the whole activity.

As Williams and Mahlangu started the protest the 8 tonne truck made a show of trying to bump the activists attempting to open the banner. The drive also kept hooting to try to disturb them. Eventually a sufficient number of members drew close enough so that the protest march could move towards the government complex, Mhlahlandlela. Once the protest started, many police officers were looking down at their shoes, embarrassed at their previous behaviour. The big truck drove away leaving the peaceful protest. Two other protests, one near the High Court and another in Joshua Nkomo Street managed to start and proceed without disturbance. All three protest groups with over 1250 members finally arrived at the government complex.

A police cordon at the entrance of the Mhlahlandlela Government complex blocked the activists from delivering the petition to the Resident minister Eunice Moyo. The protest programme continued. Four leaders, including Williams and Mahlangu made pavement speeches citing the reasons for the protest and made demands for free primary school education delivered by 30 December 2014. As the speeches were about to come to an end, two over 80 year old grandmothers, took the floor to tell the police that ‘they did not want to be herded like cattle as they dispersed’.

After the closing slogan – umkhonto wo thando – Zhii (the love spear rules), Williams and Mahlangu led the crowd in dispersing, toward the nearby bus terminus to catch their commuter buses home. A small delay in the crowd dispersal occurred when two police trucked blocked the road near Ross Camp, the provincial headquarters of the police. This caused the members to have to walk around the trucks to get to commuter ranks.

WOZA leaders decry the waste of resources used to deploy over 150 police officers from early morning, to monitor and disturb peaceful women from handing out roses and constitution pocket books to Bulawayo residents. “There is a severe shortage of police officers to do the work of arresting criminals and investigating looters of public funds. However police officers are never in short supply when there are peaceful women exercising their democratic rights by marching to ask for love or demanding that constitution be activated”. Said WOZA National coordinator Jenni Williams

ABOUT 980 Harare members took part in the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) Valentine’s Day protest to Parliament in Kwame Nkrumah Street. Marching peacefully in two formations, members were undisturbed and reached parliament to find over 30 Anti Riot Police blocking the entrance to Parliament, signing songs to deliver a message for respect and activation of the constitution.

Members then gathered close and 10 speeches were made outlining the demands on parliament and the situation of women and children in Zimbabwe. WOZA National coordinator and Celina Madukani then went into the august house reception to deliver the petition and roses. However they were informed that the clerk of parliament, and the speaker were in a meeting together and could not be disturbed. The activists realising that this was another delaying tactic decided to leave the petition on the reception table.

These misgivings had proven correct as the anti riot police had begun to disperse and beat the peacefully signing women outside. Over 10 members reported being beaten from behind as they disperse and all had visible swelling and bruising on their upper arms. The beatings were carried out by anti riot officers in black uniforms and it is unclear why their uniform differs from the normal blue uniform.

As part of the protest WOZA members handed our red roses and summary constitution pocket books to bystanders. Unfortunately WOZA did not have many copies and people hung around asking for these and many followed the procession trying to lay their hands on the constitution. The desperation for information evident to all those who were distributing information. WOZA wish to call on parliament and civic society at large to make greater effort to fill this knowledge and information vacuum. Zimbabweans have always shown a hunger for information but they seem to be intentionally disempowered. Zimbabwe seems to have a parliament that neglects awareness raising on the Constitution, a year later no such program has been started. Members of Parliament also seem to ignore the need for such a program during house sessions.

WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were followed through the city centre by obviously high ranked suit wearing intelligence officers until they managed to outsmart them and leave the city centre.
see yesterday briefing statement here http://wozazim.org/?p=1520

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Dreaming of a New Zimbabwe
The People’s Charter

Zimbabweans, united and resolute, announce:

• That after 26 years of independence, the freedoms and equal opportunities we were promised have not been fulfilled;
• The dreams we had of a good life – of dignity, comfort and security – have become nightmares. Zimbabweans must dream once again and turn their dreams into a living reality.
• We must keep in mind, however, that we deserve better and we must not be afraid to believe that we have the right to a brighter future and we have the right to contribute to building it.
• And therefore, we, the people of Zimbabwe, women, men and children, of all races, tribes and religions, come together with respect for each other and as equals to adopt this Charter, knowing that united we can deliver its possibilities;
• And we undertake to work together with strength, courage and hope, until all Zimbabweans can live in a genuinely democratic country in peace and with dignity.

We shall all be Free and Equal

• All Zimbabweans shall be equal, regardless of gender, physical ability, colour, national origin or tribe. Women’s and children’s rights shall be promoted and protected;
• We shall be educated about the rights and freedoms guaranteed to us by our Constitution and by international law, both regional and universal; and shall enjoy them freely;
• We shall be free to meet, organise and speak our minds without fear or intimidation.

People Participating in Governance

• People shall be informed of and encouraged to participate fully in all aspects of how the country is managed and run, fully exercising their rights as citizens;
• Any person born in Zimbabwe shall be allowed to become a citizen of the country. Birth certificates, national identity documents and passports shall be easily available for all citizens;
• People shall be free to choose the leaders they want, without fear and intimidation. Leaders at all levels shall be chosen through free and fair elections, without rigging;
• Women must also be encouraged to take up leadership positions to ensure gender balance;
• There shall be an independent electoral supervisory commission to oversee the conduct of elections and elections shall be monitored by neutral observers, both local and international;
• People shall be free to belong to the political party of their choice and shall not be discriminated against because of the party they support;
• All other arms of government, especially civil servants, police and army, shall be non-partisan and shall effectively serve the interests of the people.

The Leaders We Want

• All leaders shall be responsible, care for the people they serve and take their issues and problems to heart, taking action to develop their communities;
• Leaders at all levels shall respect all people equally, listen to their concerns, consult them when making decisions and feedback to them;
• Leaders shall understand that they will be held accountable and accept that the people who elected them have the right to criticise policy;
• Leaders at all levels shall publicly renounce corruption and nepotism;
• Traditional leaders (chiefs and headmen) shall not be chosen by politicians but by traditional methods. They shall be non-partisan and stay in the communities they serve, rather than sit in Parliament.

Justice in the Law

• There shall be a new constitution – written by the people of Zimbabwe for the people of Zimbabwe;
• All unjust laws that deny basic freedoms shall be repealed;
• There shall be rule of law and no single person will be above the law of the land and everyone shall have equal access to fair and just treatment under the legal system. Law breakers will be pursued, prosecuted and punished without regard to their political affiliation;
• The judiciary shall be independent and non-partisan, committed to upholding the law and promoting a culture of justice;
• Prisoners shall be treated with dignity, kept in humane conditions and given access to rehabilitation. Juveniles will not be treated as adults by the police, the courts or the prisons.

This Land is our Land

• The Land Redistribution Programme needs to start again and land be distributed fairly to any Zimbabwean – of any colour or gender – who will use it properly for the benefit of the country;
• There shall be respect for property rights;
• Farmers shall be helped with loans and inputs, so that they can develop the land productively;
• Farmers shall receive a fair price for their produce and shall be allowed to trade freely.

Wealth and Prosperity

• Government shall make every effort to bring development, infrastructure and prosperity to all parts of the country, both rural and urban, equally;
• Government shall encourage investment in commerce and industry that shall create employment and promote prosperity for all Zimbabweans;
• Government shall make every effort to control inflation by promoting production;
• Zimbabweans require a transparent and fair system of taxation with feedback on how their taxes have been spent;
• Government shall genuinely act to stamp out corruption and not let it continue to destroy our economy;
• Real currency shall return and our money shall have real value once again.

The Right to Earn a Living

• All people shall have the right to earn a living so that they can be dignified and do not need to rely on handouts to survive;
• There shall be enough employment, with decent working conditions and a liveable wage; equal pay for equal work.
• There shall be access to resources to start self-help projects, especially for youth and widows;
• People should also be allowed to trade; licenses and stands shall be fairly distributed.

Good Living

• There will be enough food for everyone;
• All basic commodities shall be available and affordable. If necessary, there shall be price controls to make sure that everyone has access to them;
• Every person shall have access to decent, affordable housing. Rents shall be lowered and there shall be respect for property rights;
• All areas, both urban and rural, shall have affordable access to the services necessary for safe, healthy living – clean water, proper sewerage and sanitation systems and refuse collection;
• All areas, both urban and rural, shall have affordable, regular access to electricity;
• There shall be a regular, affordable public transport system that provides adequate coverage of all areas of Zimbabwe. The elderly should be allowed free local travel;
• The vulnerable in our society shall be protected; the elderly, widows, people living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and the disabled shall be properly cared for by the state;
• All people shall have the right to rest, sports and recreation.

Educating the Nation

• Every child shall have equal access to an education without any form of discrimination. Those who cannot afford it shall have access to financial assistance;
• Primary education shall be free and secondary education affordable as we were promised in 1980;
• All students shall have a good quality education, taught in classrooms with enough resources – books, desks and equipment.
• There shall be enough qualified teachers committed to educating the next generation. We must respect their contribution enough to give them a living wage.

We Want to be Healthy

• There shall be adequate access to good healthcare, which shall be affordable for all Zimbabweans;
• Hospitals and clinics shall have enough medicines and equipment;
• Those living with HIV/AIDS shall have adequate access to Anti-Retroviral medication; those who cannot afford to pay shall be given the medicine and, if necessary, food aid for free;
• The elderly shall not have to pay for medical treatment or medicines.
• There shall be enough qualified medical staff committed to treating people with dignity and care. We must respect their contribution enough to give them a living wage.
• People shall be allowed to die with dignity; burial charges must be affordable.

Access to Information

• There shall be independent radio stations, newspapers and television stations that shall provide accurate, independent information
• News reporting shall be balanced, unbiased and all political parties shall receive equal coverage.

Righting the Wrongs

• There should be a meaningful apology made by those responsible for Gukurahundi and a truthful explanation of why it happened;
• Survivors of Gukurahundi and family members of the ‘disappeared’ should receive compensation;
• The pots taken from the Njelele shrine in Matobo, Matabeleland, must be returned and the desecration reversed with a full apology.
• Those affected by Murambatsvina should receive the housing that they were promised; they should also receive compensation;
• Leaders who have looted our wealth through corruption should be brought to justice.

Respect for Culture

• All people shall have equal right to use their own language and to observe their own culture and customs.
• Zimbabweans, especially the youth, should be taught their own and other traditions, so that there can be respect for all different cultures.

Peace and Friendship

• Zimbabweans are by nature friendly people – we must once again extend a hand of friendship to our neighbours, regionally and internationally, so that they can help us rebuild our beloved Zimbabwe.

Let all those who love Zimbabwe join hands to turn our dream of social justice into a reality.

Court victory for the second day in a row as Magodonga Mahlangu, a Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) leaders is found not guilty of making offensive phone calls. She appeared before Magistrate C. J. Mberewere for ruling after applying for discharge at close of state case. Mahlangu was charged with two counts of making offensive phone calls to Gladys Dube, MDC T Matshobana Ward Chair. She was defended by Nontokozo Tachiona deployed by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

In the ruling made in Tredgold Magistrates court one, the Magistrate stated the first statement made by the complainant lacked credibility and he questioned the authorship of the second statement made in the police law and order department, a different place from where the first statement was recorded in Western Commonage police station. The magistrate highlighted that the quoted words in the two statements were at odds with each other.

Ms Dube had stated that Mahlangu threatened her by saying, “you are a big sell out from the ruling party, we are coming to get you with police, CID personnel, and if Welshman loses you will see it.” The Magistrate expressed amazement, “The idea that the accused has the ability to assemble Welshman Ncube, the CID, and the Police is unbelievable and gives doubts to whether the statement was made. The state failed to prove that the words were said and even failed to prove that they were said to cause annoyance.” said Magistrate Mberewere.

He concluded that it was common among community members to use such language as – ‘you will see or I will never talk to you’ and he therefore did not see how that was threatening as to warrant court charges.

Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) wish to thank the Magistrate for exercising justice. WOZA also thank the Ms Tachiona and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights for defending Magodonga in the face of this clear case of police persecution. WOZA recognise that their Ward Chair brought this case against WOZA on 1st August 2013 thinking that MDC T were now the ruling party and could use the police to settle scores. The advice WOZA has for MDC T is ‘never count your chickens before they hatch’. WOZA wish to thank Magodonga standing her ground and for fighting the good fight with dignity.

Justice prevailed in Tredgold Magistrate court, Bulawayo for Bertha Sibanda as she was found not guilty of Public Indecency and Public Exposure. Magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa found that the state had failed to show that Bertha Sibanda had offended anyone by her disrobing in the Bulawayo Central police station courtyard on 14 February 2013, which is the last requirement of the Public Indecency Act that satisfies an activity to be a criminal offence.
Bertha had pleaded not guilty to charges of public indecency, claiming that she stripped following an instruction from the arresting police officers who shouted ‘bvisa’ (a Shona language word meaning remove your clothes).

Since her arrest on 14 February 2013, Bertha has appeared in court over 20 times and justice seemed elusive on many occasions. At close of state case, the defense lawyer Kossam Ncube applied for Bertha’s discharge but Magistrate Maphosa ordered that Bertha be put to her defense. Following testimonies from three witnesses, her own narrations of the events leading to her arrest and the submissions from the defense lawyer Mr. Kossam Sibanda, Bertha Sibanda walked out of court today a free woman.

“The case against you is not satisfactory if one of the points was not satisfied”, said the Magistrate Ms Maphosa
She however, highlighted that there is no doubt that the decision to undress was Bertha’s and the fact that she stripped in public was not questionable.

She also questioned “Why would one person undress following the instruction from police and not everyone else? Then answered her own questions by stating, “You probably, you removed your clothes as a protestation against the group’s arrest,” she said.
See closing submissions at the following link
BERTHA SIBANDA – closing SUBMISSIONS

A ruling on the case involving Magodonga Mahlangu is due for hearing in Tredgold court 1 at 8am on 15 October 2013.

Hundreds of members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA/MOZA) took part in a peaceful demonstration in Sakubva in Mutare today. The community-based demonstration targeted the local TM supermarket demanding affordable food on the shelves and an end to shortages. The protest comes a week after members demonstrated in 11 areas of Bulawayo with the same demands.

As in Bulawayo, the protestors delivered an open letter to business owners and the ministers of Industry and Commerce and Home Affairs to demand meaningful economic reforms, rather than the unthinking slashing of prices. There have been no reports of arrests so far although police have been seen in the area.

About 300 started the demo but numbers swelled as people came out of their homes to join in – both children and adults. The atmosphere was electric as vehicles stopped and people enjoyed seeing WOZA/MOZA in action – liberating the streets through peaceful resistance.

One woman came running saying, “it’s bread and roses! I had heard it from others but now it’s actually here!”

The demonstration began with the song ‘akuna upfu’ (there is no maize meal), but soon changed to ‘more fire -upfu iripi? chingwa chiripi? Tofa nenzara!’ (more fire – where is the maize meal? Where is the bread? We are hungry). As one police officer walked by, the protesters started singing, ‘mupurisa urikuona zvirikuitika?’ (mr policeman, can you see what is happening here?) He did – but chose to walk the other way.

This is the third WOZA/MOZA protest in the eastern border town.

Afterward the ‘Woza Moya’ newsletter was seen all around the TM supermarket and some people were even parading around with the placards that they had picked up.

Police responded both on cycle and by vehicle but only arrested newsletters and placards before returning to the station.

A copy of the open letter delivered by the demonstrators can be found below.

Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) has received updates of police sanctioning the right to protest by Hwange women and discrimination of women in Chitungwiza through operation Chipo Chiroorwa (women get married).

Information reaching WOZA indicates that over 100 Hwange women attempted to march to the Hwange Colliery General Manager’s office to demand their husbands pay. Police reaction group acted overzealously and arrested the ring leaders on Sunday night and then when the demonstrations went ahead, they used excessive force to disperse the women. The women who were gathered to march from Hwange Colliery’s villages 2, 3, and 5 to the general office. Instead of engaging the peaceful women whose husbands have not been paid for 5 months, the company remains silent and no comments were made by the husbands whose wives whose were forced to take action.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Chitungwiza women have been arrested and charged for ‘loitering’ for merely exercising their right to entertainment during the evening hours since Friday, 4th of October 2013. This is gender discrimination as no men were arrested or charged under this selective application of loitering laws. Additionally this operation is demeaning by implication that a woman who goes out at night is unmarried.

WOZA wish to remind the Zimbabwe Republic Police that the rule of law by use of baton sticks and excessive force should have ended with the promulgating of the new constitution where gender equality is a founding value and principle. WOZA call for the urgent and immediate formation of the gender commission and ask women to prepare submissions to flood the commission with word to create a culture of respect for the equal treatment before the law and equal rights for all genders in Zimbabwe.

WOZA extend solidarity support to women of Hwange and Chitungwiza and ask them to stand fast for gender equality and the struggle for a better standard of living for living for all Zimbabweans.

ONE thousand five hundred Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) members participated in peacefully marching to hand over a list of demands to local and national government on Thursday 19th in Harare and in Bulawayo on Friday 20th September. These peaceful protests were met with the arrest and brief detention of nine members, and over 30 members are nursing wounds inflicted with police baton sticks. Ten of these members had to be taken for medical attention and 3 underwent X-rays to verify level of injury. WOZA leaders, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were arrested on both days in both protests.

The consultation to determine key demands took place as the new cabinet and council began to take oath and begin to work. After compilation of these views, WOZA leaders then planned the launch protests to coincide with the United Nations declared International Day of Peace commemorated on 21st September. Over ten thousand members provided their demands for WOZA to submit and follow up in terms of lobby and advocacy engagement.

WOZA has commemorated International Day of Peace in preceding years, however this year, WOZA members wanted to bring a deeper understanding of the kind of peace required as it has been a word too cheaply used in the last year. WOZA decided on peaceful protest as the means to launch their demands so as to test the new government and police commitment to new constitutional clauses. A test failed by 100 percent.

The 600 members marching in two formations, found it hard to start their procession as police officers quickly beat them. The few who managed to regroup and marched to the Parliament of Zimbabwe found that police officers still blocked access to parliament and did not respect member’s right to petition. When the activists tried to disperse, orders barked in the Shona language to ‘bata munhu’ (grab that person) resulted in violent use of force to arrest three WOZA leaders curtailing their right to assembly outlined in the new constitution. As Magodonga Mahlangu tried to climb over the closed tail gate of the police Landrover. She asked for it to be opened so she could better enter the gate and the response from the senior ranking officer was to bark the order for them to ‘kanda munhu’ (beat the person). Police officers then beat her on her head and back further defeating her attempt to climb in. When she objected four police officers roughly picked her up handling her all over her body and threw her into the vehicle.

For the next 3 hours, the drama shifted to the Harare Central police station. The trio were repeatedly asked why they had been arrested and different police departments refused to ‘process’ the trio for formal charges or detention. Most of the blame was heaped on the police reaction group who had arrested the trio without considering if any offense had indeed been committed. After a tour of several offices and hours of waiting, a law and order police officer politely asked the activists and their two lawyers to accompany him. Arriving at the front entrance of the station, he merely pointing outside and said please go.

In Bulawayo the 10 am protest at the offices of The Chronicle newspaper in 9th Avenue was the venue for over 1000 WOZA members. Marching in 10 different formations all converged at the public media outlet and sang songs and chanted slogans in line with the objective of describing the kind of peace needed in Zimbabwe. As the protest program was coming to an end, the police reaction group swooped trying to beat members causing chaos. WOZA leaders managed to pull the members back to the Chronicle entrance trying to calm members down so as to disperse the protest peacefully. As the protest was dispersing some police officers demanded the members sit back down. Senior officers then attended and contradicted this order causing more chaos and delaying the protest dispersal. As Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu tried to explain to the senior officers that their junior officers had blocked the dispersing process by threatening to beat anyone who did not sit down, an order was given for Jenni Williams’s arrest. Magodonga Mahlangu and 4 other members then got into the police vehicle and hundreds of members followed to the police station.

As had happened in Harare, the activists arrival at the police station brought a contradiction. The officer commanding Bulawayo Central Chief Inspector Musvuti said he had merely wanted to discuss with Williams the need for WOZA to apply for permission to conduct a protest. Although the Chief Inspector now seemed to be genuine about engagement, Williams refused to allow the meeting to continue citing the forceful manner she had been brought to the station and the scenes of police violence visible from the Chief inspectors office balcony. The hundreds of members, who had followed the arrested leaders, had thronged the vicinity of the police station and were being beaten with over 50 police officers indiscriminately wielding their baton sticks. One member collector Mutete was violent beaten on the head and pushed in front of an oncoming vehicle by and officer who shouted in the Shona language ‘uraya munhu’ (kill that person). In a clear case of gender discrimination, police commanders had stationed two groups of police officers at the road corners and their task to ban the free movement of any woman to the police station entrance.

The majority of bystanders applauded both protests. In Bulawayo a man was overheard commenting. “Amapholisa kawekele omama laba abakwenzayo kuhle kakhulu. Akakho olesibindi sokutshela uHulumende ngesikufunayo, yekela basikhulumele (The police force should leave these women because what they are doing is good. No one is brave enough to tell the Government about our demands, let them do it for us)

WOZA recognize that it is positive that the police have not charged or detained in police cells members arrested during the last five protests. It is unfortunate that despite this positive development, the police reaction group continue to beat and arrest members casually bringing them to the police station and presenting them for detention. WOZA call for the urgent retraining of members of the police reaction group in respecting human and constitutional rights when dealing with crowd control situations. WOZA call on police command to audit the methods under which orders flow through command channels and on too many occasions orders and contradictions as officers seek to throw their superior power and egos around.

WOZA declare their peace day campaign a victory. Many police officers took time to read the Woza Moya (Come Holy Spirit) newsletter reflecting the demands and the placard messages. The Police officers will have discovered a very relevant demand for ‘A public plan of action as to how the police force will be transformed into a police service and the setting up of the independent police complaints mechanism as stated in the constitution.’

UPDATE Friday 9August 2013 – Magodonga appeared in Court but the state prosecutor requested remand pending alteration of charges. The Defence lawyer Nontokozo Tachiona then successfully argued for the state to proceed by way of summons. The court 1 Magistrate refused remand and ordered the state to re summons when they had their case in order.

6 August 2013 – MAGODONGA MAHLANGU, a leader of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) was arrested on 6 august 2013 in Bulawayo. She has been charged the Criminal law (codification and reform) Act [chapter 9:23] Act 23/2004 Section 186 entitled ‘Unfinalised Crimes: Threats, Incitement, Conspiracy and Attempt’. The person accusing her of the threat MDC T Ward Chairwoman for Matshobana, Gladys Dube, made the allegation that Magodonga Mahlangu threatened her.

Ms Mahlangu was charged by police and allowed to be out of custody till 7 august where she attended Central police station and was taken to Tredgold Court. On 7 August, 2013, the matter could not be heard as police officers were instructed to locate witnesses and record statements from them and bring the matter back on Friday 9th August 2013.

During the meeting with the area prosecutor, Lawyer Godfrey Nyoni, representing Mahlangu advised the meeting participants that the distribution of a fake flyer attacking Tsvangirai must have bearing on the case. Mr Nyoni showed the area prosecutor and police officers the flyer and recounted events that lead to phone calls between Magodonga Mahlangu and Gladys Dube. These events began on Election Day 31st July 2013. A flyer was distributed around the Bulawayo suburbs of Matshobana and Mpopoma. WOZA Members called their leadership to report this. WOZA national coordinator Jenni Williams then called both MDC lead by Tsvangirai and the MDC to advise them that WOZA had not authored the flyer which was being distributed in an attempt discredit WOZA’s impartial position and cause problems between the MDC T and WOZA. (See the flyer at http://wozazim.org/?p=1443)

It transpires that Gladys Dube and other MDC T members including Ntombizodwa Ncube took exception to the flyer and went to three WOZA member’s houses to threaten them with retribution and beating. This development was then reported to Magodonga who then called both Gladys Dube and Ntombizodwa Ncube pointing out to them that the flyer was not authored by us. However, Gladys Dube continued to threaten a local member Christine Ndlovu who had reported the incident to Mahlangu.

At a meeting on 1st August 2013, Christine Ndlovu reported that Gladys called her a ‘sell out’ for reporting to WOZA leaders that she and Ntombizodwa had threatened her. Taking this threat seriously, and in the presence of WOZA National coordinator, Jenni Williams and 15 other members, Magodonga called Gladys Dube, putting the call on speaker phone. Magodonga asked her to please stop threatening Christine, but Gladys shouted insults incessantly and finally said she was going immediately to Christine Ndlovu house to deal with her. Magodonga then after replied; if you do that and anything happens to Christine we will have to report the matter to the police. Gladys hung up the call.

However from the police reports Gladys Dube claims she was called ‘a sell out’ and that Magodonga told her ‘if Welshman loses, I will come there with CID and police’. In a normal society, responsible officials would clearly note that this story was flipped over or that someone simply misunderstood what was being said. However Zimbabwe is not a normal society so Gladys Dube made a report to the Zimbabwe Republic Police at Western Commonage police station who referred it to the Law and Order Department at Bulawayo Central Police station resulting in the arrest of Magodonga. It is also apparent from the statement of Gladys Dube that on Friday 2nd august she anticipated a MDC T election victory and therefore referred to her party as the ruling party.
WOZA members across Bulawayo have been threatened by members of the Movement for Democratic Change (Tsvangirai) with the words, “When we are the ruling part we will fix you WOZA people”. It is not therefore surprising that Gladys Dube, anticipating an MDC T win on Friday 2nd August 2013 went to the police to fix WOZA through Magodonga Mahlangu and referred to her party the MDC T party as the ruling party.