WOZA women hit the streets to launch anti-senate campaign

By Tererai Karimakwenda
17 November 2005

The Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were on the streets of Harare and Bulawayo on Thursday demonstrating peacefully against the senate. They believe the senate represents poverty while the Zimbabwean people want dignity. In each city about 200 people took part in the protests which ended successfully without any reported arrests.

WOZA coordinator Jenni Williams said the police arrived after the demo was over in Bulawayo, and they approached the women slowly in Harare. Jenni said they appreciate the police when they behave this way and understand that they have their job to do. She added that many police officers are family members of WOZA women.

With the senate elections due on November 26, the WOZA women have joined forces with civic organisations, students and churches to organise a public referendum intended to confirm that Zimbabweans truly want dignity and not a senate. This coalition is mobilising its members and will launch a weeklong door to door campaign during which the public will fill out forms that will reflect what they want. Jenni said the results will be announced just before the senate elections. She added that if the referendum shows that the majority do not want the senate, then people will know what to do, or what not to do on election day.

The government is spending 90 billion dollars on the senate elections. The WOZA women ask whether Zimbabweans want senators or the basic right to live dignity. WOZA Referendum forms can be down loaded on our website, where more information about the campaign can also be found. WOZA is also appealing for assistance with printing the forms for distribution and transportation for their staff.