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WOZA's long walk to freedom
Daniel Molokela, Peace and Democracy Project (PDP)
October 02, 2004

It was perhaps the most adventurous and dramatic story of the year in Zimbabwe. Until it happened, it was always deemed unimaginable. Let alone possible. But this past week the unthinkable happened!

As fate would have it, as the sun arose on Sunday morning a group of about fifty women quietly left Bulawayo, the royal city and headed towards Harare, the capital city.

All those who have traveled on the Bulawayo-Harare highway by road or railway will willingly testify on the long and grueling nature of the journey. It takes an average bus a minimum of six tiresome hours to trans-link the crisis-riddled country's two greatest cities.

It also takes a minimum of ten hours for a train to shuttle across the two cities. Or should I say it used to, because nowadays Zimbabwean trains rarely run on time. That is if they ever manage to run at all in the first place!

But I digress. This week's story is not about the country's rapidly collapsing public transport system. By that I do not mean that it is not a serious story. It is also a cause of serious concern. Be that as it may, I think I will have to write about it some other time.

This week's story is about a daring feat that is founded on the podium of heroism. It is about a group of women who defied logic and reason. It is about women who did what men would never think of doing. By that, I mean 'amadoda sibili'. That is, if I may be allowed to use Robert Mugabe's favorite Ndebele expression.

This week's story is about the women who took a stance and declared that 'enough is enough'. It is about the women who took an unequivocal stance against an unjust regime.

It is about women who walked all the way across the country, from Bulawayo to Harare.

Indeed, it is about women who arose early one morning, literally! The women who took a 450km long march to freedom, literally! The women who walked their talk, literally!
The amazing WOZA women!

This week's story is a tribute to a group of great women of the struggle.

I mean the struggle for a better and more democratic Zimbabwe. Indeed, the struggle against an unjust and repressive regime that has used a labyrinth of legal tentacles to maximize their octopus grip on the destiny of an entire nation.

I mean a callous regime that has systematically abused draconian laws such as the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act, the Public Order and Security Act, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and last but not least, the soon to be enacted, Non-Governmental Organisations Bill.
This week's story is about the women who wanted the entire world to know that they are radically and rabidly opposed to the obnoxious NGO Bill. This of course is the latest addition to the regime's ever growing cabinet of monstrous laws. I mean the laws that have defied all laws of democratic reason and logic. The laws that have eaten the very roots upon which the nation's political and socio-economic prospects are rooted, upon.

I am talking about laws that are meant to criminalize all forms of public expression. I am talking about the laws that are meant to curtail all forms of freedom and liberty in Zimbabwe. I am talking about laws enacted by a caricature of a legislature otherwise known as the Zimbabwe Parliament.

I mean a Parliament that was once the envy of a continent that was once the thriving hotbed for coups and life time Presidents. I also mean a Parliament that was once the hope of a people that had been denied during the colonial days, the right to vote at all. That is a people who at last in 1980, had been given the right to determine their destiny.

I mean the sad people of Zimbabwe.

Today everything has gone horribly wrong! The Parliament that was once expected to legislate the hopes and dreams of a people has become a powerless and lifeless institution. It has long lost its purpose and glory. It has now become a shambolic white elephant whose tusks of legislative influence have fallen away.

In their place today, now lies the power of a dictatorial regime. A regime whose leaders where the heroes of yesteryears. The heroes of the protracted liberation war. Heroes who over the years have become so inebriated with the rich wines of power and amassed wealth. The same heroes that have now, suddenly turned against their own people, in an orgy of political drunkenness.

The heroes of yesterday who have now easily become the villains of today.

Indeed, as this first October week commences, the same hypocrites will tread upon the hallowed corridors of Parliament. The same caricatures of democracy will proudly say 'aye' to a new law that can only make the architects of the UDI and Apartheid, blush green with envy. I mean the same villains who will willingly close the last avenue for democratic expression in the country - the NGOs.

Sadly it will be the so-called non-constituency members of Parliament who will be leading the way. It will be the likes of Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Chinamasa who will be hogging the limelight.

It will be them, the unelected MPs, who will be leading the debate on the NGO Bill on behalf of the elected MPs. It will be them who will be having the final say on the legislative proceedings on a bill that is much against the will and wishes of a nation.

It will be them who have never won any election or by-election in their entire lives. Let alone stood up as candidates! But alas, it will be them who will be having the final say on the NGO Bill's final sections and provisions!

As we all might know, the NGO Bill is merely the latest in a series of draconian laws that have only served to distance the Parliament from the people.

The same laws that have increased the gulf between the will and wishes of millions of Zimbabweans and the Mugabe led clique of non-constituency MPs such as Moyo and Chinamasa.

The same laws that have become a legal symbol of the loss of national control by the povo, the now voiceless majorities of Zimbabwe.

The same laws that have confirmed the legislative worthlessness of their long winding queues at polling stations.

he same laws that have devalued completely, the worthfulness of their enfranchisement. Let alone their ballots!

The question we all need to answer is simple.

For how long shall they continue to usurp our will and wishes as a people. Yes, for how long shall they continue to mock and scorn at the integrity and sacredness of our Parliament. For how long shall they continue to abuse our Parliament to churn out such draconian laws that are rabidly against our ambitions and aspirations as a nation?

The answer we all need to give is simple.

As long as we continue to watch the political proceedings haplessly. As long we continue to agonies and not organize. As long as we continue to sit on our laurels and assume that somehow, democratic change will come someday.

As long as we ignore the clarion call to democratic arms. The call from women who have already dared to venture into the battlefield for political space and expression. The call to arise and take charge of not only our Parliament but also our national destiny.

Indeed fellow patriots, is it not about time we responded to the determined challenge by the WOZA women and arose and joined them in unison, in prison, as part of our long but necessary walk to freedom.

Amandla, Ngawethu!
Ayihlome bakwethu!
Wathinta umfazi, wathinta imbokodo!
Woza Moya! Woza! Woza Moya! Woza!

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