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This article participates on the following special index pages:
NGO Bill - Index of Opinion and Analysis
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WOZA
present petition to Parliament
Women of
Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
October 04, 2004
View
photographs of their arrest
Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) is a registered Trust. Our objectives are:
To develop
the capacity of Zimbabwean women to:
- express their views
on issues relating to their upliftment;
- develop strategies
for economic survival;
- network with women
internationally;
- participate and take
leadership roles in public life;
Further objectives detailed
in the Trust Deed and directly related to the just ended Sponsored
Walk from Bulawayo to Harare are:
- to administer funds
received from donors on behalf of women who are to benefit under
approved development schemes;
- to establish an organisation
that promotes a positive image of women in Zimbabwe.
- to receive gifts
and donations for the Trust, providing that all donations accepted
by the Trust shall be irrevocable and the Trust shall not accept
or be party to any agreement or arrangements for any donation
which directly or indirectly may be revocable by the donor or
any person, and to undertake activities designed to raise funds
to be utilised for the purposes of the Trust.
The women of WOZA heard
about the proposed Non Governmental Organisation Bill due to come
before parliament on the 5th October 2004. We looked through the
proposed bill and we realised that if the Bill is passed in it current
form it will strike at the very existence of us and our families.
Most of the members of WOZA are widows, informal traders; some are
'living positively' with the virus. We do try to survive independently
but without help from NGO's our families and those of us who are
ill shall surely fade away and die.
We have walked 440 kilometers
to deliver this petition to parliament and hope and pray that you
will hear our cries and not pass this Bill. Over 60 of us were arrested
along the way but we have decided to risk another arrest just to
deliver this message into your hands. Please hear our cries!!!
There is a Zulu saying
- Uthinte Umfazi Uthinte Imbokodo - 'You strike a woman and you
have struck a rock'! We regard the NGO Bill in its current format,
as an attempt to strike women through WOZA. The women of WOZA are
saying we will not be struck in this way!
The Women of
WOZA - Defending Women's Rights!
Visit the Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) fact
sheet
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