Some news of peaceful protest in Zimbabwe:


Valentine’s Day breaking news 
www.wozazimbabwe.org

WOZA CLAIM THE STREETS OF HARARE AND BULAWAYO IN FIFTH
VALENTINE’S CAMPAIGN

Two thousand members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (MOZA) took to the streets
of Harare and Bulawayo today - a day ahead of
Valentine’s Day hoping to catch the police napping.
The peaceful protests marked WOZA’s fifth Valentine’s
Day procession. At present reports indicate that over
274 men and women and 20 babies are in police custody
in Bulawayo and about 10 women in Harare. The Bulawayo
protesters were arrested with real-life images of
Presidents Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur
Mutambara, who were about to be presented with copies
of the People’s Charter in a ceremony outside the
state-owned Chronicle.  

Several prominent civic leaders were present at the
demonstrations, including Dr Lovemore Madhuku of the
National Constitutional Assembly. 

In Bulawayo, a heavy police presence indicated that
police were expecting WOZA and the protest had to
start under the nose of uniformed and plain-clothed
police. Riot police swooped towards the end of the
protest at the offices of the Chronicle and brutally
beat up members. It is estimated that over 1,000 women
and men marched three blocks through Bulawayo handing
out Valentine’s cards, red roses and copies of the
People’s Charter to passersby. 

Lawyers have been deployed to attend to those in
custody and attempt to get in medical attention to
those who need it. The walking wounded that were not
arrested are currently receiving medical attention.  

In Harare, the protest started with a handing over of
a letter to representatives of the United Nations
Development Project (UNDP) and Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) asking
them to assist Zimbabweans in getting political
leaders to deliver the People’s Charter. The UNDP
offices was where the first Valentine’s protest took
place five years ago when WOZA named then Secretary
General, Kofi Annan, as their Valentine. 

WOZA activists affixed three real-life images of
Presidents Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur
Mutambara to the wall outside Takura House. Copies of
the People’s Charter were then figuratively ‘handed
over’ to the Presidents - symbolizing the need for
responsible leaders to deliver social justice. 

The peaceful demonstration then moved on to
Parliament, singing in Shona, ‘your term is up – you
have stayed too long’. As the group neared the
entrance, riot police fired tear gas canisters into
the crowd. Initially the crowd retreated but then
bravely regrouped, stood their ground and threw back
the tear gas canisters; hitting the Parliament walls
and sending those watching from the parliament balcony
scurrying back into the building. The group, which
included many leaders, sat down to await arrest but
found police only interested in firing tear gas. The
song then changed to ‘police do not harass us’.
Eventually leaders decided to declare a victory and
disperse. 

As they dispersed, the activists continued to toyi
toyi (fast march/dance) into Sam Nujoma St, past the
Herald offices into First Street. The protest was then
officially dispersed outside the police post in First
Street. In spite of this, a group of several hundred
continued to toyi toyi towards the Zanu PF offices but
were blocked at Chinhoi Street by riot police with
dogs. Several members were arrested at the scene but
it is unclear if there any members were attacked by
the police dogs. Eight members were arrested in Kwame
Nkrumah Street near the UN offices.

WOZA would like to dedicate this day to the
contribution of Zimbabwean activists to a non-violent
struggle for social justice – we salute your
non-violent discipline and spirit of love. We call on
the state-owned Chronicle and Herald to honestly cover
the events that occurred right on their doorsteps in
honour of journalist ethics. To the Zimbabwe Republic
Police we say – your children will also one day enjoy
the social justice we fight for. Aluta Continua – Woza
Moya!

Ends
13 February 2007 

For more information, please contact Jenni Williams on
+263 91 898 110 or +263 91 300 456 or Annie on +263 91
898 112 or email [log in to unmask] or check on
our brand-new website at www.wozazimbabwe.org.