WOZA protest at Bulawayo High Court over results delay

By Tererai Karimakwenda
April 09, 2008

Women Of Zimbabwe Arise were on the streets on Wednesday, marching through Bulawayo’s central business district to the High Court. Coordinator Jenni Williams said the protest march and demonstration were a surprise for the police who arrived at the High Court after the WOZA women had dispersed. WOZA are demanding the immediate release of the Presidential election results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), as part of their campaign to defend the rights of children.

Williams said about 800 members and ordinary Zimbabweans who joined in, held placards with messages to ZEC. She added that they did not seek permission because no law exists that requires them to. “The environment is extremely repressive. There is no state of emergency but we might as well be living in one”, said the defiant WOZA leader.

At the High Court the protestors displayed their placards and listened to several speakers. Williams said: “It is not usual for us to address people at the High Court. Police came well afterwards and all they could do was arrest the placards and newsletters and take them inside.”

Asked if they had any concerns or fears about demonstrating at this time when the ZEC delay has created tension and police and soldiers are very visible, Williams said: “That would be playing right into the hands of Robert Mugabe. We decided we will not be silenced.”

The WOZA members have been consistently vocal about critical issues in the country. Despite being arrested and assaulted on numerous occasions over the years, the WOZA members have continued their peaceful campaign for what they call “a dignified life” in Zimbabwe.