WOZA hold peaceful demonstrations in Bulawayo
By Violet Gonda
30 July 2007

Pressure for the government to reform is mounting in Zimbabwe. Last week scores of activists from the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) took to the streets countrywide calling for a people driven constitution and this week it was the turn of the Women/Men of Zimbabwe, who took part in peaceful street actions in several areas of Bulawayo. The activists were demanding food on the shelves and meaningful economic reforms. No arrests were reported.

An open letter carried by the WOZA protestors outlined several demands to both businesses and government, including the request that government and the manufacturing sector should negotiate in good faith to find ways to produce more affordable food without compromising the living wage of workers; that the Price Control Task Force be reshuffled and be selected in a transparent manner and that government stop harassing shop owners and allow them to stock and trade freely and honestly at the price set.
The government embarked on a price cut war several weeks ago that saw more than 5000 business directors and owners being arrested. It is widely believed the people who gained the most were the few with money and members of the security forces.

Meanwhile, the police have now left the NCA Harare and Bulawayo offices. The offices were sealed off on Wednesday after a violent crackdown on the activists by the security forces. Score of people were beaten and arrested. NCA chairperson Dr Lovemore Madhuku said the police finally left on Sunday. Most of the people who were arrested countrywide have now been released, except in Mutare where three are still in custody. Madhuku said at least eight people are still in hospital.