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St Valentines Day 2005 Protests
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
February 10, 2005

The theme?

English: The power of love can conquer the love of power!
Isindebele: Amandla othando anqoba uthando lwamandla!
Shona: Simba rwerudo runokunda rudo rwesimba!

After a 3-week tour of over 80 communities in urban and rural areas, women are ready to undertake peaceful protests for love on Valentines Day. The 'Tough Love' protests will be conducted in Bulawayo and Harare, with the handing out of red roses calling on Zimbabweans to choose love over hate.

Over 1000 women attended the 'secret' workshops conducted to consult on the 2005 theme and to mobilise them to choose LOVE when they vote on 31 March 2005. This is the third year running that WOZA will convene Valentines Day protests. WOZA is a civic movement and as it deals with day-to-day issues affecting women, women are joining from across the political divide and learning how to undertake 'Tough love' activities.

The consultation process revealed that women have a clear understanding of the different kinds of 'love' being employed by Zimbabwean political leaders and that they recognize there has been little goodwill by the Mugabe regime to fully respect basic freedoms and comply fully with SADC norms and standards. Women are of the view that their willingness to exercise their right to vote is tempered with the reservation that this election is not about the people of Zimbabwe and their need for love... but it is about a power struggle. However, women agreed that they would go out in their numbers to vote and illustrate that the power of love can conquer the love of power. The time has come to refuse to be 'shut up'.

In keeping with WOZA mandate to speak out, the latest issue of WOZA MOYA, the newsletter of WOZA reads, "The 2005 Election according to WOZA is not about the people of Zimbabwe exercising their voting rights - it is about holding on to political power. Zimbabweans seem to be woven into a rope that is being pulled in the tug of war between the political parties - we are only relevant as a 'thing' to push and pull." Just like a bad husband who beats and mistreats his wife and children. We would accept that this election is about our human rights if we saw unjust laws repealed and genuine love being allowed to flow through the exercising of basic freedoms. This newsletter is being circulated countrywide.

During the community rounds, women spoke of the love of power already being demonstrated by political aspirants. They spoke of the following attempts to 'buy' votes and the empty promises.

The promise of residential stands for low amounts of money ($20 000). The people promising these stands are allegedly war veterans; Distribution of food, blankets, fertilizer and land to plants crops; BEAM (Better Education Assistance Module), Education fees assistance was withdrawn last year - the excuse - no money! But suddenly it is back..... During previous election periods this happened, some women said they were happy at first but before long found themselves paying fees in full; A politician in Mashonaland had promised them a railway line. The people of that area need a railway line. Not the promise of one! Vendors chased away just weeks ago from their stalls have been called back to their stalls. This is also evidenced by the proliferation of corner phone shops. Informal Traders deserve business opportunities now and forever not just when there is an election. Health Services are reported as being in 'intensive care' in The Herald some weeks back but suddenly we are being promised free treatment for children under 5years!

In their words a WOZA Grandmother told us about an old pot that is no longer useful. She has a hungry family and a lack of cash. She advises as follows. She bought a prized pot in 1980 and it has been used since then to feed her family. But it has become old. It has been mended at least 25 times but still leaks. She has had no money to buy a new one. Continuing to use the rusty pot is causing illness. But she cannot allow the children to go hungry. How can she buy a new pot to feed her family when she has no money? She will have to use her mind to find a way to buy a better pot. One that will be strong and feed her family well.

Ugogo we WOZA watshela abantwana ngendaba yembiza. Uthi wathenga imbiza yakhe ngo 1980. Pho imbiza isibhobokile, isilezikhala ezingamatshumi amabili lanhlanu - 25. Njalo isilethomba nkala (irusi). Angayibeka eziko icitsha umlilo. Isipheka ukudla okungahlanzekanga okugulisa imuli. Pho sokuyisikhathi sokuthi ayilahle athenge eyinye ngoba kayiselancedo. Pho uzathenga njani engela mali? Sokumele asebenzise inqondo!

Gogo ve WOZA vaiudza vazukuru vavo nenyaya yepoto yavo yaka chembera. Poto iyi yachembera yaka tengwa makore makumi maviri nema shanu apfuura. Uye yanzwa neku booka ichingo namiwa. Poto yashaisa vanhu mufaro nokuti vano garo rara nenzara, vave kudya sadza mbodza - nguva dzose, nekuti iyi yagarisa. Ikagarisa pamoto inobooka zvakare. Saka kuti Gogo varerukirwe - vanofanira kuti vatenge imwe vacha tenga nei ko vasina mari? Vanofanira kushandisa pfungwa kuti vawane imwe itsva.

The WOZA Newsletter is available from the Kubatana Website - It is called WOZA MOYA/ HUYA MWEYA
(Meaning: Come Holy Spirit/ Cleansing Wind)

WOZA means 'Come forward'. By women for women and with women, across race, colour, creed, class or political persuasion. Empowering women to be courageous, caring, committed and in communication with their communities.

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.

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