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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Price Controls and Shortages - Index of articles
WOZA
hold peaceful demonstrations in Bulawayo
Violet Gonda, SW Radio Africa
July 30, 2007
http://www.swradioafrica.com/News300707/WOZA300707.htm
Pressure for
the government to reform is mounting in Zimbabwe. Last week scores
of activists from the National
Constitutional Assembly (NCA) took to the streets countrywide
calling for a people driven constitution and this week it was the
turn of the Women/Men
of Zimbabwe, who took part in peaceful
street actions in several areas of Bulawayo. The activists were
demanding food on the shelves and meaningful economic reforms. No
arrests were reported.
An open letter carried
by the WOZA protestors outlined several demands to both businesses
and government, including the request that government and the manufacturing
sector should negotiate in good faith to find ways to produce more
affordable food without compromising the living wage of workers;
that the Price Control Task Force be reshuffled and be selected
in a transparent manner and that government stop harassing shop
owners and allow them to stock and trade freely and honestly at
the price set.
The government embarked
on a price cut war several weeks ago that saw more than 5000 business
directors and owners being arrested. It is widely believed the people
who gained the most were the few with money and members of the security
forces.
Meanwhile, the police
have now left the NCA Harare and Bulawayo offices. The offices were
sealed off on Wednesday after a violent crackdown on the activists
by the security forces.
Score of people were
beaten and arrested. NCA chairperson Dr Lovemore Madhuku said the
police finally left on Sunday. Most of the people who were arrested
countrywide have now been released, except in Mutare where three
are still in custody. Madhuku said at least eight people are still
in hospital.
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