A tribute to WOZA on International Women's Day

By Tererai Karimakwenda
07 March 2006

On Wednesday March 8th women's groups around the world celebrate International Women's Day, a date set aside as a national holiday by many countries and commemorated at the United Nations to remember the important role of women in history and the struggles that they have had to face. Regardless of ethnic background, language or culture or economic and political differences, women worldwide celebrate this day, respecting a common tradition and their shared struggles for equality, peace and justice.

In Zimbabwe, no group epitomises this struggle more than Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). These brave women consistently organise peaceful demonstrations in their quest for democracy, peace and justice, risking their lives in the face of the brutality of the Mugabe regime. Many have been arrested on numerous occasions but they keep returning to the streets with their message of love and demand for a dignified life for all Zimbabweans.

International Women's Day is promoted by the United Nations and has more support that any other programme. In fact The UN website’s page for this important date has the following quote: ”Today a central organizing principle of the work of the United Nations is that no enduring solution to society's most threatening social, economic and political problems can be found without the full participation, and the full empowerment, of the world's women.” This is certainly true in Zimbabwe.

The WOZA women have organised demos around every issue, from the need for a new Constitution, the unaffordable price of food and the ensuing shortages, freedom of speech and the abuse of women and children. On Valentines Day this year WOZA women gave out bread and roses, which was their theme and symbolic way of demanding enough food and dignity for every Zimbabwean. As they say; “If you strike a woman, you strike a rock.” And so it is only fitting that we at SW radio Africa say to our brave women, “WOZA Moya” - with much love and respect.