Refugee Seven:

The Refugee Seven appeared on 6th January 2010. They were due to hear the magistrate’s ruling on whether they could be removed off remand whilst their case is being heard before the Supreme Court. The ruling was not ready however and so the group was further remanded to 12th January. On the 12th, the magistrate was not available and so the group was again further remanded to 25th January. On the 25th, the magistrate finally gave her ruling, denying the activists the right to be removed off remand. They were further remanded to 25th February 2010.

Williams and Mahlangu:

The duo had appeared in Bulawayo Magistrates Court on 18th December 2009 but Magistrate Msipa was not ready with her ruling on whether the pair could be removed off remand. They were further remanded to 21st December. On the 21st, she refused the request to remove the activists off remand saying that they had brought the delay upon themselves by taking a challenge to the Supreme Court. The pair was further remanded to 24th February 2010.

At the beginning of the year, defense lawyer, Kossam Ncube made an urgent application to the High Court for Magistrate Mspia to be reviewed, claiming that her ruling as being ‘anter-alia grossly unreasonable and irregular‘. A copy of this application can be found in the legal documents folder.

The 10-day waiting period elapsed without the state responding to the application. It was passed unopposed on 28th January 2010 and an order for the activists to be removed off remand was issued.

WOZA is delighted that Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu have finally been removed off remand in a case that has been ongoing since 16 October 2008 but are concerned that the ruling from the Supreme Court has still not been received.

News update – 3pm:

The 22 women arrested in Pumula today have been released without being charged. As lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights were unavailable to attend to the matter, WOZA National Coordinator, Jenni Williams, and Magodonga Mahlangu attended the police station and met with the Officer in Charge, Assistant Inspector Chimani. He advised that the members had already been released and apologised for arresting them, saying that the officers concerned did not realise that they were WOZA members.

WOZA would like to acknowledge the professionalism of Assistant Inspector Chimani but call on him and other police officers to stop the arbitrary arrest of Zimbabweans.

***

At 11 am today, 22 women in a private home were arrested in Pumula, a suburb of Bulawayo.  They are currently being held at Pumula Police Station. Most of the arrested are members of WOZA who were discussing the constitutional reform process. As lawyers were unable to respond, WOZA National Coordinator, Jenni Williams called the Officer in Charge at Pumula, Assistant Inspector Chimani, and asked him why the members had been arrested. He professed no knowledge of the situation.

The meeting was a private meeting of members exempt under all public order laws. Please call Inspector Chimani on + 263 9 422907 or 422898 and ask him to stop harassing WOZA members. Also advise him that there is an ongoing constitutional reform process countrywide and that they should participate and allow others to participate freely.

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.

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.

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

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Ukuphupha iZimbabwe Entsha
Amalungelo Avunywe Alotshwa Ngabantu

AmaZimbabwe, elokubambana lokuzimisela ngenhliziyo yonke, ayamemeza:

• Ukuthi ngemva kweminyaka engamatshumi amabili lesithupha (26) sithole uzibuse, inkululeko lamathuba alinganayo esasiwathenjisiwe lokhe singakawatholi;
• Amaphupho esasilawo enhlalakahle – ukuzotha, induduzo, lokuvikelwa – sephenduke kwabangamaphupho amabi. Izizalwane zeZimbabwe kumele ziphuphe futhi, njalo zenze amaphupho azo afezeke;
• Kumele sihlale sizazi ukuthi sifanelwe ngokungcono njalo singabi lokwesaba sikholwe ukuthi silelungelo lekusasa enhle njalo silelungelo lokuphatheka ekufezeni lokhu.
• Thina abantu beZimbabwe amakhosikazi, abesilisa labantwana, kugoqela yonke imbala, imihlobo lenkolo ezitshiyeneyo, sizandawonye sihloniphana njalo silingana samukela amalungelo avunywe alotshwa ngabantu phansi, siyazi ukuthi uma simanyene engafezeka;
• Sizasebenza ndawonye ngamandla, ngesibindi lethemba ukuze izizalwane zeZimbabwe zithole umbuso okhululekileyo, ukuthula lokuzotha ngempela.

Sonke Sizaba Lokukhululeka Njalo Lokulingana

• Wonke amaZimbabwe azabalokulingana, kungakhethelekile ukuthi ungowesifazane kumbe ungowesilisa, kumbe uyisigoga, umbala kumbe udabuka ngaphi kumbe ungumhlobo bani. Amalungelo abomama labantwana kumele aqakathekiswe njalo avikelwe;
• Sizafundiswa ngamalungelo lenkululeko alotshwe kusisekelo sombuso wethu lemthetho yomhlaba wonke jikelele; njalo sizawakholisa sikhululeke;
• Sizaba lenkululeko ekubuthaneni, lekuqoqeni, lekukhulumeni imbono yethu singela kwesaba lokwethuselwa.

Ukuphatheka Kwabantu Kwezombusazwe

• Abantu bazaziswa njalo bakhuthazwe ukuthi baphatheke ngokugcweleyo kundlela zonke zokuphatha ilizwe lekuqhubeni amalungelo abo njengezizalwane;
• Wonke umuntu ozelwe eZimbabwe uzavunyelwa ukuba yisizalwane selizwe, incwadi zokuzalwa, izithupha kanye lencwadi zokuhambisa kwamanye amazwe kuzatholakala kalula kuzizalwane zonke;
• Abantu bazakhululeka ukukhetha inkokheli abazifunayo kungela kwesaba lokwethuselwa. Inkokheli kuzibanga zonke zizakhethwa kukhetho olukhululekileyo kungela kuqilibezelwa;
• Amakhosikazi kumele akhuthazwe ukuthi babe ngabakhokheli ukuze kube lokulingana kwabesifazana labesilisa;
• Kuzaba lequla elizimele lodwa elizaphatha libone ngokuqhutshwa kwenhlelo zokhetho njalo ukhetho luzaba lenhloli ezingasekeli hlangothi, abavela phakathi laphandle kwelizwe;
• Abantu bazakhululeka ukukhetha ibandla lezombangazwe abalifunayo njalo bengasoze babandlululwe ngokusekela lelobandla;
• Zonke ingatsha, izisebenzi zikahulumende, amapholisa lamabutho, azisoze zingenele kwezombangazwe kodwa zizagcwalisa izifiso zikazulu.

Inkokheli Esizifunayo

• Zonke inkokheli zizabalomlandu, wokunakekela abantu ababakhokhelayo njalo bafake udaba lenhlupho zabantu enhlizweni njalo benze okungathuthukisa isigaba;
• Inkokheli kuwo wonke amabanga zizahlonipha abantu bonke ngokulinganayo, balalele izikhalazo zabo, bazwe imbono yabo nxa besenza izinqumo njalo babuye lempumela ebantwini;
• Inkokheli kumele zazi ukuthi zizabalomlandu njalo zamukele ukuthi abantu ababakhethileyo balelungelo lokuchothoza imithetho kumbe indlela abasebenza ngayo;
• Inkokheli kuwo wonke amabanga kumele emphakathini batsho ukuthi bazahlukana lenkohlakalo lokukhethana ngobuhlobo;
• Induna labosobhuku akumelanga bakhethwe ngabezombangazwe kodwa bakhethwe ngesiko. Akumelanga basekele amabandla ezombangazwe. Kumele bahlale ezigabeni abazikhokhelayo, kulokuthi bahlale ePhalamende.

Ukulunga Emthethweni

• Kuzakuba lesisekelo sombuso esitsha esilotshwe ngabantu beZimbabwe singesabantu beZimbabwe;
• Imithetho yonke engalunganga njalo encindezela okumqoka kunkululeko yabantu izakwesulwa;
• Umthetho uzasebenza njenjomthetho njalo akula loyedwa ozabanga phezulu komthetho welizwe. Wonke umuntu uzaba lethuba elilinganayo ukufinyelela lokuphathwa ngokulunga kwezomthetho; abephuli bomthetho bazalandelwa, betheswe icala njalo bazajeziswe, kungela kuthi ngowaliphi ibandla lombangazwe;
• Abomthethwandaba bazasebenza bengala hlangothi njalo bengamelanga ezombangazwe, bazinikele ukuphakamisa imithetho njalo bakhulise umkhuba wokulunga;
• Izibotshwa zizaphathwa ngendlela elobuntu, bagcinwe endaweni ezilobuntu njalo bazathola imfundiso yokuthi bangahlala njani labanye abantu kanye lokuzinceda empilweni zabo. Izibotshwa ezingaphansi kweminyaka elitshumi lasitshiyangalombili (18) azisoze ziphathwe njengabantu abadala ngamapholisa, emthethwandaba kumbe entolongweni.

Umhlabathi Lo Ngumhlabathi Wethu

• Uhlelo lokwabiwa komhlabathi kumele luqalise kutsha njalo kumele kuphiwe umuntu wonke ngokulinganayo kungela bandlululo lwemihlobo kumbe ukuthi ungowesifazana kumbe wesilisa – uphiwe abazawusebenzisa ngendlela ukuze kube yinzuzo yelizwe;
• Amalungelo okuba ngumnini wempahla azahlonitshwa;
• Umhlabathi kumele uphiwe abantu abazawusebenzisa ngendlela efaneleyo okuzanceda amaZimbabwe wonke kube lencwadi etshengisela ukuba umhlabathi ngowakhe;
• Abalimi bazancediswa ngemali langempahla yokusebenzisa ukuze ukulima kube lula njalo kube lesivuno esihle;
• Abalimi bazathola intengo ehambelana lezilimo zabo ekuthengiseni njalo bazavunyelwa ukuthenga lokuthengisa abakufunayo bekhululekile.

Umnotho Lengqubela Phambili

• Uhulumende uzenza ngazo zonke indlela ukuthuthukisa izizwe ngokulinganayo emadolobheni lemaphandleni okugoqela izakhiwo eziletha ingqubelaphambili;
• Uhulumende uzakhuthaza indlela zokuhuga abazasungula amabhizimusi azadala imisebenzi njalo akhusele intuthuko kuzizalwane zeZimbabwe;
• Uhulumende uzenza ngamandla akhe wonke ukuthi amise ukwehla kwesisindo sedola ngokukhusela inzuzo;
• Izizalwane zeZimbabwe zifuna indlela ebalulekileyo njalo ebasuthisayo kwezemithelo njalo kube lengcazelo ukuthi imthelo yabo isebenza njani;
• Uhulumende uzazinikela ngeqiniso ekuqedeni inkohlakalo njalo engayiyekeli iqhubeke ibhidliza ezomnotho;
• Imali yethu kumele ibe ngeyoqobo ukuze ibelesisindo.

Ilungelo Lokuziphilisa

• Umuntu wonke uzakuba lelungelo lokuziphilisa ukuze abe lesithunzi angaphili ngokukhangezwa ukuze aphile;
• Kuzakuba lemisebenzi eyaneleyo, lezindlela zokusebenza ezizothileyo njalo leholo elingenelisa ukuthi umuntu aphile njalo kungabi lokwehlukana kweholo kumsebenzi munye;
• Kuzakuba lokutholakala koncedo lokuqalisa inhlelo zokuziphilisa, ikakhulu kulutsha labafelwakazi;
• Abantu bazavunyelwa ukuthengisa lokuthenga; incwadi zokuthengisa njalo lendawo zokuthengisela zizaphiwa abantu ngokulinganayo;

Inhlalakahle

• Kuzaba lokudla okwanele wonke umuntu;
• Zonke izinto ezifuneka empilweni zabantu mihla ngemihla zizatholakala njalo zizathengeka; nxa kusenza; kumele kube lohlelo oluhlolisisa ngentengo ukuze wonke umuntu enelise ukuthenga;
• Wonke umuntu uzenelisa ukuthola indawo yokuhlala elohlonzi njalo elentengo ayenelisayo, imbadalo yezindlu izakwehliswa lamalungelo okuba umniniwo azahlonitshwa;
• Indawo zonke zemadolobheni lemakhaya zizenelisa ukuthola uncedo olwamanzi ahlanzekileyo, lezempilakahle lokubuthwa kwezibi okuvikelekileyo;
• Zonke izindawo emadolobheni lasemakhaya zizenelisa ukuthola amagetsi ngentengo eneliswa nguzulu;
• Kuzakuba lendlela zokuhambisa ezaneleyo kuzo zonke izindawo zeZimbabwe. Asebekhulile (amaxhegu lezalukazi) bazavunyelwa ukugada kungela mbadalo lapho abahlezi khona;
• Abantu abangenelisi ukuziphilisa ezigabeni bazanakekelwa amaxhegu lezalukazi, abafelokazi labaphila belegcikwane leHIV/AIDS, intandane kanye lezigoga bazanakekelwa nguhulumende ngokugcweleyo;
• Bonke abantu bazakuba lelungelo lokuphumula, lemidlalo njalo lokuzilibazisa.

Ukufundisa Isizwe

• Umntwana wonke uzathola imfundo ngokulinganayo kungelabandlululo. Labo abangenelisiyo bazancediswa;
• Imfundo yogatsha lwaphansi (primary education) ayisoze ibe lembadalo lemfundo yogatsha lwaphezulu (secondary education) izakweneliswa ngumuntu wonke njengesithembiso sika 1980;
• Izifundi zonke zizathola imfundo elohlonzi, bazafundela ezindlini – kuzabalezingwalo, amatafula, lezinto zonke ezifunekayo esikolo;
• Kuzaba lababalisi abaqeqetshileyo abazimiseleyo ukufundisa isizukulwane esizayo. Kumele sibahloniphe ngokuzinikela kwabo emsebenzini bathole iholo elihambelana lomsebenzi wabo;

Sifuna Impilakahle

• Umuntu wonke uzathola ukwelatshwa ngentengo ephansi njalo eyaneliswa nguzulu wonke weZimbabwe;
• Izibhedlela lama clinic kuzakuba lemithi lemitshina layo yonke impahla eyaneleyo;
• Labo abaphila legcikwane leHIV/AIDS bazathola imithi (ARVs). Abangelamali zokuthenga bazaphiwa kungela mbadalo njalo nxa kudingakala, bangazuza uncedo lokudla kungela mbadalo;
• Asebekhulile (amaxhegu lezalukazi) bazakwelatshwa lokuthola imithi kungela mbadalo;
• Kuzakuba labomongikazi labo dokotela abafundele umsebenzi labazinikeleyo bephathe kuhle abantu; kumele sihloniphe ukuzinikela kwabo emsebenzini bathole iholo elihambelana lomsebenzi wabo;
• Abantu kumele bavunyelwe ukufa okulesithunzi, indleko zokungcwaba kumele zaneliswe nguzulu.

Ukuqhutshwa Kwembiko

• Kuzakuba lemisakazo ezimeleyo, amaphephandaba labomabona kude okuzaletha imbiko eqondileyo;
• Kuzakuba lokubhalwa kwendaba ezimqoka ezingasekeli hlangothi. Zonke inhlangothi zombangazwe zigoqelwe ngokulinganayo.

Akugobo lingeqondiswe

• Kuzakuba lokuxolisa kwalabo ababalesandla kuGukurahundi njalo kube lokuchaza obala ukuthi bakwenzelani;
• Abasindayo kuGukurahundi lemuli zalabo ‘abanyamalalayo’ kumele bathole inhlawulo;
• Izimbiza ezathathwa eNjelele eMatopo kweleMandebeleni kumele zibiselwe. Lokhu kwayenziwa yikuswelakala kwenhlonipho. Kumele kube lokuxolisana okugcweleyo;
• Abalahlekelwa ngesikhathi soMurambatsvina kumele bathole izindlu abazithenjiswayo njalo kumele bathole inhlawulo;
• Abakhokheli abahuquluza inotho yelizwe ngenkohlakalo kumele bahanjiswe emthethwandaba.

Ukuhlonipha Amasiko

• Umuntu wonke uzakuba lelungelo elilinganayo ekukhulumeni ngolimi lwakhe lokuzalwa lokunanza usiko lwakhe lomthetho wakibo;
• Izizalwane zeZimbabwe, ikakhulu abasakhulayo, kumele bafundiswe amasiko lemilayo yabo leyabanye. Ukwenzela ukuthi kube lenhlonitshwa kwamasiko wonke.

Ukuthula Lobungane

• Izizalwane zeZimbabwe ngomdabuko ngabantu abalobudlelwano labanye –Asitshengisele ubudlelwano lamazwe esakhelane lawo, kumkhono weAfrica lomhlaba wonke jikelele. Ukuze basincedise ukwakha ilizwe lethu leZimbabwe.

Bonke abathanda iZimbabwe abasixhase ekufezeni injongo yokuqondiswa kwamagobo kwezenhlalakahle lokuzothisa uzulu ngempela.

Good evening Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I would like to add my thanks to that of Magodonga’s to the Robert F Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and friends here present for the recognition given to Women of Zimbabwe Arise.

WOZA was formed to give voice to ordinary women and men and to demand social justice for all Zimbabweans.  We did not set out to seek recognition beyond that of our own government respecting us as citizens and recognising our concerns as legitimate.  We are mothers of the nation, longing for the award of dignity, and a bright future for our children. It is unfortunate however, to note that our activism – demanding our rights as citizens  —- comes at a cost. I personally find WOZA members constant courage inspirational and would like to take this opportunity to salute their dedication.    Although some have paid the ultimate price ——– their lives sacrificed at the hands of police harassment, or due to a health crisis, brought about by a government, that prioritises power over human life.  As I stand here in the White House, I pay tribute to them –  Tembelani Lunga – Julia Chapeyama –  Fungai Chabata –  Douglas Magwaro –  Maria Moyo and others.

Maria’s story is an example of how life is cut short in Zimbabwe.  A veteran of the liberation struggle, Maria looked after her six orphaned grandchildren, struggling to educate them by selling tomatoes.  Finding that the country’s hard-won independence had been squandered, she once more engaged in struggle and became an active member of WOZA. It was upon her tenth arrest and two nights in filthy police cells, Maria contracted the flu.  Her condition steadily worsened as she had insufficient food and no access to medicine.  The final straw came when she was abducted from her sickbed by police early one morning and interrogated in the bush for hours.  Maria died days later, never recovering from the trauma of her torture.

Maria embodies the spirit that drives us.  WOZA was formed to turn a victim mindset into the one of a survivor — determined to finally realize the promises of the liberation war – for the ideal of “one person-one vote,” for equality and for the right to education.  Blood has already been spilt for these ideals.  WOZA leads a nonviolent struggle and we are committed to giving it a chance to complete our long walk to freedom.

To help us, we draw inspiration from the work of Martin Luther King Junior.  He challenged us to ‘make injustices visible’ and to work so that ‘fear can be turned into hope.’  We modelled our training programmes on his advice, and today, we have a membership of 75,000 strong to show for it.

We are not fighting a revolution in Zimbabwe, we are leading an evEolution.  And civic education is our tool to evolve the hearts and minds of Zimbabweans, to build a strong, new, African democracy, where respect, tolerance and accountability are key.  The building blocks of this democracy are being laid in cattle kraals, tiny two-roomed houses and church halls across the country.

Mr President you know how invaluable community mobilising can be – We have learnt that knocking on doors, talking with and listening to people is the way  WE CAN rebuild our nation. We call on you, to support community mobilizers who are organized to knock on doors, and empower Zimbabweans to deliver change from the ground up.

Magodonga has already appealed to friends here present, I would like to add my plea that Zimbabweans be allowed to develop their democratic voice without harassment.

The constitutional reform process is currently stalled in Zimbabwe.

Little has been done under the Global Political Agreement to ensure there is a secure environment for people to participate in this process and that they can freely say what they want to be included in the content of our new constitution.

We are extremely worried that the structures of violence organized during the presidential run-off last year are currently being reinstated, to intimidate us into silence, and allow the fast-tracking of the so-called “Kariba Draft” of the constitution, endorsed by the political parties. Why is this money being spent for violence instead of funding the constitutional reform?  We want to be able to express our views and still live to see the new constitution working.

We ask for help in establishing a Southern African Development Community monitoring mechanism of the GPA, that would focus on individuals’ security, and the constitutional reform process.  WOZA can take care of the speaking out, and the freedom to express, but we need help to make sure there is freedom after expression.

I thank you!

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.

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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!

SEVEN members arrested in Bulawayo on Wednesday 17th June appeared on remand in Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court  today. They had been due to appear on 7th October but had been further remanded as one of the accused was seriously ill at the time and could not appear earlier in the month.  As the state was still not prepared to bring the matter to trial, the group was due to be further remanded when defence lawyer, Kossam Ncube applied for them to be removed off remand. The magistrate will give her ruling on whether they should be removed off remand on Monday 26th October.

The activists are charged under Section 37 1 a of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act – ‘disturbing the peace, security or order of the public’.

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
SISTERHOOD BOND

 

My name is …………………………………………………………………………………………

I give my word that I will strive to stand up in support of my sisters. I will give ‘her’ my hand in support as we struggle together towards our rightful place as equals in society. Working together, hand in hand, we shall bring Zimbabwe back to peace, justice and prosperity.

As the struggle continues, I will remember the following guidelines:

1. To speak out and encourage other women to do the same, so that the female voice is heard. Women should no longer suffer silently.
2. To participate in peaceful assembly and meetings to discuss our challenges and to act rather than complain.
3. To be a comfortable shoulder to lean on or a listening ear. ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’.
4. To demonstrate love and courage in our homes and communities so that people can shake away fear.
5. Women are the mothers of the nation and must demand that Dignity.
6. To be a supporter of Non-violence so that people can see that problems can be solved peacefully.
7. To seek out and be in solidarity with like-minded women.
8. To be God fearing and encourage activities that promote spiritual health.
9. To support Democratic participation with tolerance for differing views and opinions.
10. “An injury to one is an injury to all”.

I give my word!

Signed: ………………………………………………………… Date: …………………………………

Witnessed by: ……………………………………… Witnessed by: ………………………………

Copyright © 2004