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WOZA
statement on March 8 International Womens Day
Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
March 08, 2005
ONE hundred and eighty
member of Women of Zimbabwe Arise – (WOZA) met at a secret location from
the 4 to 6 March 2005, to reflect on the role of women in Zimbabwean society.
Members were mainly drawn from Bulawayo and Harare, but representatives
came from as far a field as Nkayi and Kariba. The main resolution was
to proceed with peaceful protest on 8 March 2005.
As a result of reflecting
on the political and economic environment, women decided to go forward
and vote to overcome the suffering faced on a daily basis by women. They
resolved to "Vote on 31 March to free their sister from suffering".
Women described the
hardships they face in graphic terms: One said her eyes now remain red
from perpetual crying day in and day out and she has pinned her hopes
that her tears can be wiped away by casting her ballot where there is
"love".
Another women explained
that her cat now sits upon her stove. Perhaps the cat remembers that food
was once cooked there on a daily basis.
The WOZA membership
is dominated by informal traders and one women testified about the challenges
in trying to sell enough to put food on the table. She lamented that she
is frequently arrested and her goods confiscated to the tables of the
police officers houses. She said "they feed their children whilst
I am killing mine with hunger."
Against this background
of starvation and deprivation, WOZA will continue to campaign tirelessly
in the month of March to get women to go out and vote for the candidate
of their choice with whom together they can create more freedom and democracy
in Zimbabwe.
Recognising the grave
importance of this election, the women of WOZA call on their sister to
observe the cultural practice of sexual abstinence within the crucial
dates of 28th March to 2nd April. This cultural
practice is called "ukuzila amacansi" in Ndebele "Hapana
Bonde" in Shona.
Mother WOZA, the leadership
body of WOZA endorsed this resolution by saying, "Sisters do not
boycott casting your ballot but boycott sexual practice for the sake of
a better tomorrow. To their husbands, we say, we know you understand our
culture, many a day your children go without food – we must sacrifice
together. Woza Moya, Huya Mweya, Come Holy Spirit and help heal our land!"
Members of WOZA take
to the street peacefully in Bulawayo and Harare to urge women and men
to Vote and to lobby for the separation of men and women – a sexual boycott,
come month end. The women of WOZA practice a unique brand of civil disobedience
called "Tough Love" denoting their love for their country and
families above all else.
Visit
the WOZA fact
sheet
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