WOZA surprise police with a ‘Valentine’s Day’ demo in Bulawayo

By Tererai Karimakwenda
12 February, 2008

Catching the police off guard, the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) conducted their annual Valentine’s Day demonstration on the streets of Bulawayo on Tuesday. Coordinator Jenni Williams said she was pleased that about 600-700 members participated this year. They decided to hold the event earlier to avoid any violent disruptions by the police.

The WOZA members distributed roses to the police and the general public, as is their tradition, along with flyers urging Zimbabweans to take a stand on issues affecting their children. Williams added: “We know things are tough but we think this is the time for us to really defend the country’s future and stand up for our children."

Williams said there were some vehicles with senior police officials present as the demonstration began. By the time riot police arrived the activists had completed their route and were already dispersing.

The outspoken activist took the opportunity to criticise the amendments to the Public Order and Security Act, that resulted from the SADC initiated talks between the ruling party and the opposition. She said: “I think other organisations and political parties should recognise that this new POSA doesn’t bring any change, any improvement in freedoms of expression and assembly. Because we sprung a surprise and we were peaceful today, we managed to live to fight another day.”

The amendments to POSA were supposed to take away from the police the power to ban public gatherings by civil groups and political parties. But the changes have been criticised as being purely cosmetic. The police continue to apply the law selectively, banning rallies by the MDC, the Zimbabwe National Students Union and other organisations. Pro-government elements such as the war veterans conduct public demonstrations without any police interference.

Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Group of Amnesty International’s Irish Section, have organized an action in Dublin on Valentine's Day, in solidarity with WOZA. Coordinator Andrew Furlong said that on Thursday they would be distributing 460 roses imported from Zimbabwe, along with a flyer that raises awareness of the human rights abuses Zimbabweans are facing at home and in the various countries where they have settled.

The Amnesty Zimbabwe Group will also be performing their play titled “A Footprint of Roses” on Friday. It tells the story of a group of WOZA women who have been arrested and are in the police cells. Furlong said one of them is pregnant and she begins to miscarry after she is kicked in the stomach by a police officer. The play will be followed by a panel discussion on the human rights issues raised in the play and those experienced by Zimbabweans around the world.