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All Valentine Day Walkers released
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA
February 15, 2003

Bulawayo account, Harare account

Women of Zimbabwe Arise wish to advise that all 16 Bulawayo participants who spent the night in Police custody have been released without being charged. Police may proceed by way of summons.

The group of 15 women included Sheba Dube-Phiri, one of the WOZA founders, Father Nigel Johnson and Ricardo Caprez who was accompanying the walk playing a drum. Father Johnson was taking a video of the procession and Police manhandled him to confiscate his camera. They were released at 10:30am Saturday.

In celebration of the release of the group, women who had gathered in solidarity placed red roses on the pavement in front of the Police Station.

The noon walks were organised to spread the following message: "Zimbabweans: learn to love again! Say no to hate and violence in all its forms and yes to love. Love us, respect us and allow us to be women. Love us today and everyday." The walk was conducted in Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls,
although many supported the move in spirit, locally, regionally and internationally.

The founding members of WOZA condemn the arrest of 73 Zimbabweans whose business on the day was to send a message of love and peace. Those arrested included two founding members of WOZA, Jenni Williams and prominent human rights activist and Chairperson of the League of Women Voters, Sheba Dube-Phiri.

WOZA founding members offer heartfelt thanks to Zimbabweans who answered their call to stand up for love on Valentines Day. To the hundreds who received flowers from participants, we remind them that in receiving the rose, they were requested to end the hate and violence in Zimbabwe.

"We would also like to recognise those of you who did not manage to connect up with the body of Walkers, due to changes to the route for security reasons. To those who conducted prayer vigils to ensure that the spirit of love prevailed. We thank the almighty that the unnecessary assault on
Father Nigel by Zimbabwe Republic Police Riot Squad was not serious and he has recovered. The struggle for love and peace continues on undeterred. There were also many organisations that sent delegate and we recognise their commitment. " A spokesperson for WOZA said.

WOZA thank the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and their members for their support. In both Bulawayo and Harare several lawyers were quickly on hand to support. In Victoria Falls, a group of 11 were escorted by 8 policewoman and they successfully delivered the message of love to residents of the border town. The backdrop to their walk was the smoke-that-thunders. The procession went on peacefully with no arrests. Despite the refusal by the Police to escort the Bulawayo and Harare processions, women decided to gather and deliver their message and all the events were peaceful.

In Harare the group gathered at Takura House in Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, a building that houses the United Nations representative to Zimbabwe. The business there was to deliver a letter to Secretary General Kofi Annan to inform him of his selection as their Valentine for 2003. Fortunately this was done before the group was arrested. Women of Zimbabwe await acceptance of the honour from the Secretary General.

Riot Police ordered the group to disperse but they argued that they were peaceful and withdrew onto the pavement where women sat down to demonstrate their peacefulness. They proceeded to sing the national anthem before attempting to read the letter to Annan. A female officer did not allow the reading of the letter although promises where made that the group would then disperse. She instead told the seated contingent that they were under arrest and radioed for vehicle to uplift the group.

The group, who included two 83 year old women and a Dominican Nun Sister Catherine, where transported to Harare Central Police Station where they remained until released at about 4pm. Williams was released separately after signing a warned and cautioned statement.

Seven journalist print and electronic media were searched for in the Parkade opposite and they were also arrested. Williams's 18-year-old son, Christopher, who was in the Parkade watching proceedings, was arrested with the male journalists. They were all released without charge.

WOZA abhor the outright lies in The Herald that the group walked along Samora Machel chanting political slogans and waving red roses. And request the Police spokesman, Bothwell Mugariri recheck his information sources. Even the Law and Order officers made no mention of this fabricated information when Williams was charged.

In the Bulawayo procession, Dube-Phiri, received several threatening calls from persons identified as police officers warning her not to proceed with the Walk.

She said, "We consulted our constituency and they made the decision to proceed. As a leader, I would not shirk my responsibility to lead the walk for the love of love and peace so we proceeded. I believe that they kept us in overnight as an unfortunate form of discipline but we know our constitutional rights."

The group in Bulawayo was able to get mobile and traversed many city blocks before Dube-Phiri and the others were arrested. As the group proceeded the numbers of participants swelled to almost 300. As they walked they sang and a couple of people who had pots beat them with cooking sticks to show up the
food shortages.

Eyewitnesses said that Police moved amongst the group-selecting people to arrest, targeting white women and searching for the Movement for Democratic Change Vice President's wife, Zodwa Sibanda. The women spent the night in a holding cell with 7 other women arrested on other charges.

On the WOZA platform, women are being united around issues and not personalities. Colour, creed, religion, or political loyalties are irrelevant as women join together to say enough is enough and to take their position in lobbying for a return to a democratic dispensation where they can adequately provide for their families.

Williams and Dube-Phiri, acknowledge the role of the 9 men who stood beside the women as they were arrested. "You are true men, we love you! Your names will lead the list of Valentine Men of Men."

For more information, please email wozazimbabwe@yahoo.com

The Valentine Lovebirds - List of those arrested - all now released

Bulawayo - 16 persons
1. Sheba Dube-Phiri
2. Linda Palmieri
3. Margaret Morrison
4. Zodwa Sibanda
5. Joey Arrowsmith
6. Avril Patel
7. Verity Mundy
8. Diana Charsley
9. Sue Bonnet
10. Tracy Lowe
11. Fiona Farmer
12. Debbie York
13. Jeanette Cross
14. Zeytoun Ferrero
15. Ricardo Caprez
16. Father Nigel Johnson

Harare - 54 persons, some names withheld
1. Jenni Williams
2. Gertrude Hambira
3. Rosemary Muriva
4. Benhilda Parewa
5. Mai Sismai
6. Riana
7. Annette
8. Jill Thornhill
9. Lin Sheperd
10. Evelyn Masaiti
11. Mrs L. Nelson
12. Mrs Gibson
13. Sister Catherine Jackson
14. Judith Chinyama
15. Caroline Elliot
16. Jenny Brian
17. Jennifar Muduzu
18. Lillian Muduzu
19. Lillian Chinyerere
20. Dadirai Bikita
21. Enia Dovi
22. Jackie Yasiri
23. Auxillia Shoniwa
24. Elizabeth Masila
25. Apolonia Chiriwa
26. Gean
27. Florence Mapfumo
28. Precious Nyandoro
29. Patience Chinyangwa
30. Shimmer M
31. Maria Nanyiwa
32. Judith Chinyama
33. Ana Goragada
34. Lillian Chinyerere
35. Christopher Williams
36. Lloyd Mudiwa The Daily News
37. Aaron Ufumeli The Daily News
38. Brian Hungwe South African Broadcasting Corporation correspondents
39. Davies Sidube South African Broadcasting Corporation correspondents
40. Maria Nyanyiwa of the Voice of the People
41. Cyrus Nhara freelancers
42. Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi freelancers

Visit the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) fact sheet

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