Joyce Mujuru’s record on women’s rights criticised as WOZA marks anniversary against police brutality

By Violet Gonda
28 March 2006

Members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) will gather in prayer in Bulawayo on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the arrest and brutal treatment of over 260 women at the hands of police in Africa Unity Square last March.

The women are also challenging Zimbabwe’s first female Vice President Joyce Mujuru to defend the rights of women. The group asks; “Where was she when riot police beat women and trampled them? Where was she when they were denied access to food and lawyers? Where was she when they had to sleep in an open courtyard with their babies? Where was she when they were denied access to toilets?”

This is the second time this week that Zimbabwean women have castigated Mujuru for not speaking out or doing something to help the plight of women. The women’s assembly of The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has been forced to pay duty of US$7,000 on a shipment of much needed sanitary pads that was donated by international supporters. Spokesperson Tabitha Khumalo said this is despite the fact that many women are being forced to use newspaper or leaves as an alternative.

The WOZA women say that is why “She must show us if she is woman enough to defend women and their human rights of dignity and peaceful assembly. We believe that she must know, in prison or no, Zimbabwean women are not free!”

WOZA Coordinator Jenni Williams says many of the activists who were detained last year are still suffering medical complications and distress as a result of the beatings they received. Over 1000 women, 20 of whom with babies strapped on their backs had gathered in Harare for a prayer vigil for peaceful elections when armed riot police violently broke up the gathering.

Many of the WOZA activists were arrested and detained overnight in an open courtyard at Harare Central Police Station. A statement from the groups says as the police officers arrested women they beat them with baton sticks. Over 30 had to be treated and 9 hospitalized for severe beatings to their backs and thighs. Some of the injuries were inflicted when police officers made women lie down on their stomachs and then walked over them with booted feet.

More women were arrested later that day as the police drove around central Harare picking up groups of women who were still en route to the venue and those who had sought refuge in the waiting room of the railway station.

Williams said the women have waited in anticipation to see if the Vice President would answer their pleas but said her stance is shown in her silence and inaction.

The outspoken activist said; “Nobody doubts that she has credentials of a liberations war veteran. But when you research and read the books about women’s role in the liberation struggle you are not clear that it was also a genuine fight for equality that led us to the Zimbabwe of 1980. And now in 2006, as she wants to become President, we are still questioning her credibility, her legitimacy as someone who should have championed, during the liberation struggle and now, the struggle for equality of women.”

The WOZA women will begin their anniversary activities at St Marys Cathedral in Bulawayo on Wednesday. A similar prayer service will be held in Harare on 31 March.

The women who say they are affiliated to no political party say the focus of last year’s vigil, “was to pray for peace during the post election period and to pray for divine intervention to prevent the results being manipulated as reported in the 2000 and 2002 Elections.”

They were released after the night in custody and charged with obstruction under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.