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WOZA convenes 2005 Annual Congress
Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
September 08, 2005

ONE hundred and seventy five women from around the country convened the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) Annual Congress, dubbed the 'Assembly of Sheroes' from 4 to 6 September in Matabeleland. The Assembly was conducted at a secret location in defiance of the Public Order Security Act (POSA) which calls for Police to be notified of any gatherings. WOZA women outsmarted POSA and the Zimbabwe Republic Police and no arrests were made and proceedings were conducted in a 'liberated' atmosphere.

Delegates came from urban areas of Bulawayo and Harare. Kariba and Victoria Falls. Rural Areas such as Insiza, Njelele, Nkayi, Lupane, Hwange rural, Inyathi and Nswazi.
The business of the Assembly was successfully conducted and included:

• renew commitment to the mandate of Civil disobedience
• share and discuss on the challenges of daily existence of members and formulate a plan of action for the next six months,
• consult rural women as to their participation and allow them an opportunity to understand our way of operating
• incorporate humanitarian assistance within the operations of WOZA without losing focus on our mandate
• conduct elections of 'Mother WOZA' members which makes up the management body of WOZA
• Share mobilising experiences to build up numbers participating in protest actions
• Provide partners Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) with an opportunity to hear directly from women the rights abuses they face. ZLHR also shared their understanding of recent constitutional amendments and issued an invitation to WOZA to participate in the All-Stakeholders Conference on 17 September.

Resolutions were made to address the following issues through peaceful protest:

• Food - the lack of and prices. Rural women to focus on impartial distribution.
• The lack of opportunities to earn a living. Most members are informal traders affected by Operation Murambatsvina.
• Homelessness and the false promises of Operation Garikayi / Hlalani Kuhle.
• Education and Health - huge increases of school fees are top of the protest agenda. Protest regarding access to Anti Retrovivals and medical services in general.
• Women want protests against the passing of Constitutional amendments and do not hold out much hope for a free and fair selection of Senators.
• Rural women decried the politicization of traditional leaders and councilors. They recommended protests to pressure Chiefs and Headmen to return to their traditional roles.
• Last years calendar of protests, including Valentines, Mothers and Refugee Day will be observed. The next protest will be conducted 21 September, International Day of Peace under the theme 'Peace not Poverty'.

The Sheroes endorsed the mandate of WOZA to continue to speak out, lobbying and conduct advocacy within communities. They acknowledged that there is great impact within and without Zimbabwe after testimonies from rural women. Women from Insiza who had demonstrated against impartial distribution of food acknowledged that they had listened about the work of WOZA on Studio 7 broadcasting from the Voice of America and were motivated to act.

Women after women testified that despite arrests during peaceful protests, they would continue to participate as long as their day to day existence was being affected by an uncaring Government. Many testified as to the success of the dual mobilising strategy of visible street protests with invisible community meetings. WOZA also conduct secret workshops to empower women with knowledge about their rights and how to act on them.

Women thanked the men who support their wives and mothers and 'sisters in the Diaspora' for being in solidarity with them and them to continue. Special mention must also go the members of Amnesty International who send solidarity postcards and write, fax and phones members of the Zimbabwe Republic police to pressure them into 'doing right and not abusing rights'.

Elections were conducted for members of 'Mother WOZA' the management body but as a raft of unjust laws is still in place their identity has to be kept secret. The leadership met the strict criteria that compliment their action mandate. Each candidate had to have a high level of courage and good mobilizing capabilities; a record of attendance in past activities and volunteers to do administrative and organizing functions; follows the Sisterhood Promise and is humble enough to work within their community despite being a leader. The election was conducted by the ZLHR acting as an Independent Election Commission. They declared the election 'Free and fair and above board'.

The management board Mother WOZA have expressed their willingness to lead the organisation through what could be the hardest year for Zimbabweans by saying, "Our theme this year was Defending Women, Defending Rights and we will do exactly that. We have set ourselves up as a litmus test to proof that the power of love can conquer the love of power. 'Tough Love' is our secret weapon of mass mobilisation. We are mobilising Zimbabweans for an Evolution not a revolution. There is a saying 'Hope too long deferred makes the heart sick. Our job will be to cater to the sick hearts but also to give women hope for a better tomorrow."

Visit the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) fact sheet

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