Back to Index

WOZA Valentine's Day March
Jacquie Cahi, Harare Detainee
February 15, 2003

WOZA statement

Women gathered outside the United Nations offices on Friday noon to demonstrate love by handing out flowers for peace. The gathering had apparently been denied permission under POSA though I’m not sure if all the women knew that. About 60 women from all walks of life made their way to the city center. There was a broad section of women of all races and classes – including a nun from the Dominican Convent, Trade Union representatives, housewives and mothers, domestic workers, an MP and ordinary working women.

It didn’t take long for the riot police to arrive, at which point the women moved off the road, as instructed, and sat on the pavement ready to read out the letter to UN secretary Kofi Annan. The riot squad headed by a women ( in fact many women police officers were deployed) informed us that the meeting was illegal and that we should disperse. We offered to do so after we had read our letter, but the policewoman then called for back up and instructed us not to move. By this time the women were surrounded by riot police and a couple of passers by had also got caught up and were not allowed to proceed on their business.

We were transported to Harare Central in four police landrovers. As we were driving along Second Street we saw Harare North MP Trudy Stevenson who waved to us. The police then proceeded to pick her up as well because ‘she knew us’. We waited in the car park of Harare Central while police took down our details. The atmosphere was very good natured and caring amongst the women. The police brought us water which earned them a round of applause.

Once we were moved upstairs to Law and Order, where our details were taken again, the police officers were good natured, although they were reluctant to accept our offers of flowers. We were released on the understanding that if we regrouped outside the police station, we would be locked up until Monday.

As we were leaving the Law and Order offices a Valentine Clown, dressed in a red suit ,wearing an orange wig and carrying a red rose was being brought into the premises. A frantic police officer claimed that this was a police station and not a circus and could someone please get the clown out of there. Apparently however he was being brought to the Law and Order offices but we didn’t establish on what charge.

By all reports we were treated much more gently than our sisters in Bulawayo. It’s a pity we didn’t have 2000 women, but the women who were there proved that women can be a quiet force to reckoned with.

One middle aged while woman told me she’d never done anything like this in her life before, but had been inspired by the courageous stand taken by cricketers Henry Olonga and Andy Flower.

Visit the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP