Secretary Rice spotlights Jennifer Williams, founder of WOZA

By Jim Fisher-Thompson
USINFO Staff Writer

Washington — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spotlighted the achievements of Zimbabwean human rights activist Jennifer Williams with an International Women of Courage Award presented at the State Department March 7.

Williams, founder of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) — a civil society organization established in 2003 to protest government abuses — accepted the award in the name of the group’s more than 45,000 members.

“The award is a great honor, but the real award will be a free and independent Zimbabwe ,” Williams told USINFO during an interview at the State Department on the day of the ceremony.

The Zimbabwean was one of 10 recipients of the courage award chosen from among a field of 82 women activists nominated by U.S. embassies worldwide.

The ceremony was held on International Women’s Day, during a month that the United States celebrates as National Women’s History Month.

Announcing the award for Williams, the department cited the “harassment and physical abuse” she suffered under President Robert Mugabe’s regime and commended her for “providing an example of courage and leadership by working for change through peaceful and nonviolent means.”

In establishing the award in 2006, Rice said, “Women of courage are standing up for freedom and human dignity and the United States stands with them. We must not forget that the advance of women’s rights and the advance of human liberty go hand in hand.”

Arrested more than 25 times for leading protests against Mugabe’s regime, Williams said, ” Zimbabwe supposedly got independence in 1980.” But under “dictator” Mugabe’s disastrous land-seizure policies the economy is being destroyed and the country is turning into a beggar of international food aid.

Because of resulting malnutrition and lack of proper health care, she said, “Women are dying at age 34 [median age]; men, at 37. You can’t earn a living. The authorities tear down houses that are not squatter houses and stop you from making a living.”

Hardships fall especially hard on women, Williams said, because it is the children “who beg mama for more food or want to know why they can no longer go to school” when there is no money for school fees.

Williams, a Matabele from Bulawayo , has paid a high personal price for her social and political protests. She received death threats following her arrests. Her thriving public relations business is defunct and her husband and children live in “economic exile” in Britain . A Matabele is a member of the Bantu people native to southern Zimbabwe .

Despite the personal sacrifices, the activist said she feels empowered because WOZA’s strength lies in its community members “who have ownership” in the organization. “It is because of our united struggle, hand in hand, that we are going to get the Zimbabwe we want,” she said.

“Another very important aspect in saving our [protestor’s] lives is the solidarity we get from people around the world,” Williams said. And in that regard “the American Embassy in Harare has been very helpful.”

“On the 12th of December I was arrested along with 300 others at parliament,” she related. “It was an incredible thing to see a U.S. Embassy vehicle parked right there where we were seated on the ground under arrest. One police official after another tried to get the Americans to move but they just kept sitting there saying, ‘we are just here to observe the process.’”

“That gave us a lot of courage,” Williams said. “We had been brutally beaten just two weeks before at a demonstration and we just needed to know that someone was watching out for us this time around. And at the demonstration at parliament, the police allowed us walk away free, which had never happened before.

“So, we think it is important for the diplomatic community to play a role in helping us achieve our struggle,” she added. “We can do it ourselves but it helps when the Mugabe authorities know the world is watching.”

The 83 members arrested on 20 September after a peaceful protest to mark International Peace Day were finally removed off remand in a routine court hearing in Harare Magistrate’s Court this morning. Magistrate Macdonald Ndirowei finally granted the defence’s application for a refusal of further remand.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights had applied for a refusal of further remand when the group had appeared in court on 1 December 2010. The magistrate refused this application and further remanded the 83 members to 29 December. He stated if the prosecution did not have their case in order on the 29th the group would be removed off remand. When they duly appeared on the 29th however, the public prosecutor who had been dealing with the case was on leave and the stand-in prosecutor did not have a record of the case. Instead of dismissing the matter, the magistrate further remanded the group out of custody to 3 January 2011.

The group has 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’.

WOZA is very pleased that the 76 women and seven men have finally been removed off remand. We condemn the continuous persecution through prosecution of human rights defenders exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest however.

The 83 members arrested after a peaceful protest to mark International Peace Day appeared in a routine remand hearing in Harare Magistrate’s Court this morning. They were further remanded out of custody to 3 January 2011. This was to allow the usual prosecutor to return from leave. The state had provided a public prosecutor that had no record of the case.

When the group last appeared in court on 1 December, the magistrate had promised that they would be removed off remand if the state’s case was not in order on the 29th. Yet magistrate Donald Ndirowei chose to ignore this earlier promise. 

The group has 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’.

At noon today, approximately 600 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise, including representatives from Bulawayo and rural Matabeleland, delivered their views on the constitution to Parliament with a peaceful procession through the streets of Harare. No arrests have been reported as yet but this may change as community leadership are still verifying the safe return of members.

Three processions began at different locations in the city centre, converging on Parliament where a copy of a report containing WOZA’s views on the constitution was handed over. The report is entitled ‘the rising of women means the rising of the nation – no more poverty and starvation, many sweating for a few to benefit’.

The peaceful group sang as they marched, handing out abbreviated copies of the report, much to the delight of bystanders, several of whom joint in the procession. Their songs included, “ukaona madzimai – when you see women they are rising in unity”.

Whilst members waited at Parliament for the arrival of the third group, police arrived in full riot gear, causing people to disperse. When the third procession arrived however, members regrouped to sing, “tirinhume takatumwa kunora bumbiro – we are messengers sent to write a constitution.”

Jenni Williams, WOZA’s National Coordinator, then handed over a copy of the report to a parliamentary official who accepted it whilst asking why WOZA is always demonstrating outside Parliament. Williams addressed the peaceful crowd during which time a police officer politely tapped Williams on the shoulder, asking to please have a word with her.  Ignoring him, Williams instructed members to peacefully disperse, which the police officers present were happy to allow.

Members were happy and excited that they were able to deliver their views on the constitution in a peaceful manner and passed by the offices of The Herald, wanting to test media freedom in Zimbabwe by leaving them a copy of the report as well.

WOZA would like to commend the Zimbabwe Republic Police for their restraint and professionalism in allowing our members to practice their right to peaceful demonstration.

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

More photos of the march can be found on our Facebook page.

The 83 members arrested after a peaceful protest to mark International Peace Day appeared in a routine remand hearing in Harare Magistrate’s Court this morning. They were further remanded out of custody to 29 December 2010.

Defence lawyer, Tawanda Zhuwarara had applied for a refusal of further remand which was denied by the magistrate. Despite the docket still not being ready, the state argued that it was too expensive for the state to proceed by way of summons because there were too many accused. The magistrate did warn the state however that if their case was not ready on 29 December, the 83 activists would be removed off remand.

The group has 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’.

On International AIDS Day, WOZA calls on health authorities to provide adequate and affordable access to anti-retroviral medication for everyone who needs it. We also urge people to take responsibility for their own health.

WOZA is pleased to announce that one of its founders, Jenni Williams, has been awarded an International Women of Courage Award by the US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice. Jenni accepted the award in Washington DC last week on behalf of the members of WOZA.

The award aims to honour the contributions of women in furthering the cause of freedom, justice, peace, and equality. Williams was one of 10 women honoured, having been chosen from 82 activists nominated by various US embassies around the world.

In announcing the award for Williams, the US State Department cited the “harassment and physical abuse” she suffered under President Robert Mugabe’s regime and commended her for “providing an example of courage and leadership by working for change through peaceful and non-violent means.”

In an interview with USINFO on the day of the ceremony, Williams said, “The award is a great honour, but the real award will be a free and independent Zimbabwe.”

She went on to say that she feels empowered, despite the harassment, because WOZA’s strength lies in its community members “who have ownership” in the organization. “It is because of our united struggle, hand in hand, that we are going to get the Zimbabwe we want,” she said.

WOZA would like to congratulate Jenni on receiving this award and continue to be inspired by her strength and leadership.

Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) express solidarity with the people of Burma in their ongoing struggle for freedom and participatory democracy. We welcome the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. Her personal courage and determination have been an inspiration to us in our own struggle and we celebrate her release with her friends and supporters around the world.

The recent elections were deeply flawed. Thousands of political prisoners remain in detention. The road ahead will be long and difficult.
 
We wish Aung San Suu Kyi and all the people of Burma the necessary strength and courage to keep up their fight for freedom and social justice.  We urge them to believe in their own power to achieve their goals however long it takes and in spite of the sacrifices.

In recognition of the need for all people’s movements to join together in a common effort to build genuine democracies, members of WOZA and MOZA stand in solidarity with our Burmese brothers and sisters. May we all succeed in our efforts to create a just world in which the life of every human being is valued.

Aluta continua!

State harassment of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe continued this week when police attempted to serve summons to 14 activists arrested in May 2008. Only one member, Clara Manjengwa, received the summons to appear in Harare Magistrate’s Court today at 8.30am. When she presented herself at court, there was no docket, witnesses or any record of the matter being due to be heard. The police themselves were not even present. In fact the only evidence that a summons had been served was the copy that Clara herself had. Clara is still recovering from her most recent detention in Harare Central Police Station a few weeks ago and had to leave her sick bed to attend court. 

Instead of dismissing the matter out of hand, Prosecutor Chigota insisted on calling out the names of the 14 from Clara’s copy of the summons three times, despite it having been communicated that Clara was the only member to receive the summons. The matter was postponed to 11.30am to give time for the docket to be found. When at 11.30 the docket still had not been found and neither the Investigating Officer nor witnesses were present, Magistrate Munhamato Mutevedzi dismissed the matter. The state will have to proceed by way of summons when they have their case in order.

The 14 members had been arrested on 28th May 2008 near the Zambian Embassy in Harare, where they were to hand over a petition to the SADC chair calling for an end to post-election violence. 12 of the group spent 17 days in Chikurubi and Harare Remand Prisons after the state contested the Magistrate’s granting of bail.  Two members, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, spent 37 days in Chikurubi Prison before being granted bail. The group were charged under Section 37 (1) (c) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act – ‘participating in a gathering with the intent to promote public violence, a breach of the peace or bigotry’. After appearing in court on remand several times, the group was finally removed off remand on 15th October 2008.

WOZA condemns this attempt by the state to resurrect this case over two years later without any additional evidence as pure harassment of human rights defenders. It raises concerns of renewed violence and persecution of pro-democracy activists ahead of a possible election next year.

To read the request for remand, click here: Request for Remand – J. Williams and 13 others

Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) have finished an eleven-month long programme of social justice consultations, which saw them holding 284 defiance meetings with approximately 10,000 Zimbabweans nationwide. In the WOZA way, most meetings were carried out in defiance of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

The response from the communities visited was overwhelming, especially in the rural areas. Although rural residents have been branded the regime’s most unwavering supporters, so desperate are they for change that they were willing to walk for several kilometres to a meeting just to be heard.

Areas covered include Bulawayo, Harare, Chitungwiza, Gwanda, Victoria Falls, Binga, Gwanda, Matobo, Insiza, Kezi, Hwange, Tsholotsho, Turk Mine, Binga, Chimanimani, Mutare, Masvingo, Nyanga, Nyazura, Rusape, Buhera, Bikita, Kadoma, Kariba, Mvurwi, Shamva, Norton, Chegutu, Gweru, Marondera, Karoi, Sadza, Guruve, and Chivhu.

“I am not valued” People’s disappointment was clearly evident in every meeting, bemoaning the fact that government has failed to fulfil its promises.

Said Mbuya Motsi from Chimanimani: “the people we chose to lead us have forgotten us and we have become ghosts in our motherland. The situation we are in right now is the same as a person who goes to bed but can not change sides, you need to change sides and turn now and again, without which one is most likely to wake up all sore and stiff”.

A dejected Jonathan Zimbe from Dzivarasekwa, Harare went on, “I do not feel part of Zimbabwe. I am not valued and I have no role in influencing the state.”

During the consultations the issue of lack of adequate medical services and ‘dying with dignity’ was raised countless times. Residents in Bulawayo’s Pumula suburb complained that ‘corpses are piling up like sacks of maize in mortuaries – you can barely recognize your dead’. In Victoria Falls people are now afraid to take sick relatives to hospitals because they get abused by hospital staff that shout at them, “what the hell do you want us to do with your sick ones?”

What was also clear in all the meetings was the outspokenness of the elderly. At the only health facility in Ratanyane, a mission hospital, old people are no longer accepted. “How can a nation be a nation without old people?” they queried.

The young are equally dissatisfied. In Ratanyane, Maphisa, young married couples complained of being unable to get their own land or permission to build houses so they are forced to live with their in-laws in overcrowded conditions.

In Chegutu, illiterate adults are still waiting for the free education promised to adults who missed the opportunity to be educated during the war of liberation. Nationwide, the crescendo of voices reminding leaders to deliver the free primary and affordable secondary education promised at Independence cannot be suppressed.

Injustices – past and present In Mleja, Dewe, Datata, Njube and Magwegwe, people are still upset about the desecration of the Njelele shrine in Matobo, Matabeleland, which they say angered the gods. They want those that dismantled it to appease the ancestral spirits and return the stolen pots. Another issue that caused great bitterness and anger in most areas in Matabeleland was that of Gukurahundi. Most people want those responsible to make a meaningful apology and compensation to be paid to survivors. Other calls were for psycho-social support for survivors, death certificates for the ‘disappeared’ and an overwhelming longing for people to know what happened to their loved ones. Another injustice, Murambatsvina, was also raised with calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable and victims to be given compensation and housing.

In Turk Mine, people also objected to being forced to go to ZANU PF meetings and chant slogans by the police. In Madwaleni, the situation is also similar, as one of them aptly put it: “People in Zimbabwe only have one right in their lives – to talk about ZANU PF.” Parents from Pumula, Bulawayo added that they eagerly waited for their children to come back from the Border Gezi National Youth Service, patriotic and empowered, but their children came back from the camps brainwashed and rude, pregnant or with sexually transmitted diseases.

Despite the eagerness of people to share their views, WOZA members were almost arrested and constantly harassed during the consultation period, at times having to avoid youth militia and state security agents. The most recent incident being the harassment of two members in the Chivhu area three weeks ago as they tried to talk about social justice and discuss with locals what their vision of a new Zimbabwe would be. Police forced nine villagers to sign statements hoping to charge WOZA leaders after the consultation. The villagers argued that they were only being consulted on a Zimbabwe that would dignify them and that they were very happy to be consulted by WOZA, which is not a political party. One elderly lady even insisted that her statement reflect that in South Africa the elderly receive assistance from the state and that she wanted similar support. Despite the reluctance of the villagers, police insisted on taking the WOZA leaders to court – only for the Prosecutor to refuse to press charges.

WOZA carried on amidst the harassment, spurred on by the despair of a nation which has ‘received nothing but distrust and fear from our leaders’, as one resident of Warren Park testified. WOZA’s mandate is to hold Zimbabwe’s leaders accountable because people “were promised silver and gold where as up to date they were paid by words without meaning.” (Matshobana)

The 83 members arrested on 20th September appeared in Harare Magistrate’s Court in a remand hearing before Magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti this morning. The 76 women and seven men were arrested after a peaceful demonstration calling for community safety on International Peace Day and spent two nights in custody in Harare Central Police Station before being released on free bail. The activists were further remanded out of custody to 3rd November. 

The group has 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’.

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

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