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The Circus versus the WOZA Whistle-blowers
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
August 03, 2004

Dear Friends,

I think I have recovered my intellect enough to write you all. Having spent over 4 hours being questioned about WHISTLES, I became depressed and friends heard it in my voice. What depressed me? NO it was not my being arrested, I expected and planned for that. NO it was not the fact that they raided my mother's house saying they were looking for 'inflammatory materials, weapons and explosives'. Instead they confiscated thousands of WOZA scarves, Valentine Cards and WOZA MOYA newsletters - all are not weapons of mass destruction! NO the fact that they arrested the blackboard did not trouble me much as I was sure it would not talk under torture. I was pleased to hear that Police mounted a 24-hour guard under freezing conditions outside my company's offices, as people need more money to survive! Neither was it the fact that Police also confiscated 2000 whistles made of plastic with no exploding parts? No I had to face up to a personal deficiency - I realised that I was not clever enough to be stupid and that depressed me!

On Monday 2nd August I was in Remand Court with 10 of my colleagues when we noticed Police officers, we estimated about 20, in attendance. After court was concluded I was asked to accompany the officers to Police Central alone. Of course I was in the company of about 20 WOZA women who were not going to miss out on the action. They accompanied me to the gate and two of them voluntarily allowed them to be arrested and interrogated with me. After an afternoon of interrogation our benevolent Investigating officer said he would allow us to go home to sleep in our own beds and clear the confusion from our heads about the name and address of the person who donated 2000 whistles to WOZA. We duly went home but instead went to our beds feeling stupid for having spent a whole afternoon talking about whistles. Of course having gone to bed in that frame of mind, no names and addresses came into our heads by osmosis and instead we reported back as instructed at 8:30 am ready to restore our intellect. By mid morning it was apparent that no progress was being made. We had spent hours the day before without access to water or toilet facilities and did not fancy a second day, so we stepped up the pressure! We had bad luck, as our lawyers were too busy to attend when we needed them, so for the second day we had to go into interrogation without counsel.

As the interview began the opening remark was that a barter exchange was to be brokered. We would be given our freedom if we divulged where the whistles came from. We could go home never to be arrested again as long as we stayed off the streets of course!! However if we refused this barter deal, the next time we are arrested we would have to go to the High Court in order to make bail or would never make bail.

I think it was at this point that we remembered the phrase on the WOZA scarves - 'Enough is enough' and announced that further conversation was not necessary. He could take us to his police cells, to court or release us. We walked out of his office and went to sit in the corridor to stress this point. After 15 minutes he came and said he was releasing us but would I 'consent' to him calling me through my lawyer in the future? As a just law abiding citizen I agreed and departed. After cooling off and at least 10 cups of tea my intellect is restored. Sometime tomorrow I shall probably find my sense of humour again. I would like to thank you all for the incredible support phone calls, text messages and emails. I have been critical in the past of the lack of support when I have been in state accommodations but I can say that is in the past. Thank you for supporting me! Things looked pretty grim when I heard they were searching for weapons and that 2 warrants of arrest had been issued on me. I had moments when I questioned my sanity in coming back to Zimbabwe to face the music having been visiting my sick mother. There is always a reward for doing the right thing and my reward has been in receiving words of encouragement from you all!

Please could I request those of you resident in our Zimbabwe help us replenish our supply of whistles as they are obviously an 'item' and we will need to incorporate them in our peaceful demonstrations as suggested by our police 'advisors'. These can be found at any children's toy store and posted to P. O. Box FM 701 Famona, Bulawayo. Please do not post more than 20 whistles per packet so we avoid congesting our letterbox. Thos is diaspora could have whistling sessions outside Zimbabwean Embassies!

Aluta Continua
Jenni

PS: By the way 46 of us are currently on trial for 'blocking the pavement'. The trial resumes on Friday 6 August.

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