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Statement
on International Women's Day and death of Susan Tsvangirai
Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
March 08, 2009
As the world,
including Zimbabwe, commemorates International Women's Day,
members of WOZA find little to celebrate.
As organisations, both
local and international, take the opportunity afforded by International
Women's Day to speak out about the need for gender equality,
respect for women's right and an end to violence, WOZA joins
the chorus. Yet we understand that women in Zimbabwe, and Africa
as a whole, need much more than rhetoric - they need action.
And actions speak louder than words.
The current situation
of the ordinary woman in Zimbabwe is heartbreaking.
She only lives until
the age of 34 because the Mugabe regime killed a perfectly good
health system. She can hardly access antiretroviral treatment and
even if she does, the three meals a day she needs to take them with
is impossible. She cannot put a full nutritious meal on the table
for her family because Zimbabwe is no longer the breadbasket of
Africa but its basket case. She cannot afford to buy food even if
it is available because the Mugabe regime put the economy in intensive
care and Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono put a bullet to its head
when he started to remove zeros without comprehensive reforms.
A mother is always preoccupied
with a better future for her children so that she can dream about
sitting in the shade and being looked after for a change. But the
prospects for this have been thrown out of the window by the destruction
of the education system by the Mugabe regime. Educating children
was already a challenge previously but in 2008 it became a form
of torture for parents. Teachers left, school buildings deteriorated,
text and exercise books disappeared to be sold on the streets for
exorbitant prices. Government did not even bother to buy chalk,
and this burden, along with that of paying teachers, fell on the
parents' shoulders.
Zimbabwe, in the throes
of a political and governance crisis, failed to safeguard the rights
of children to an education and their right to a better future.
The untold story of Zimbabwe is the impact of the crisis on the
lives of our children - how these innocent souls will bear
the terrible burden of our adult hatred and intolerance.
In Zimbabwe
there is now an 'inclusive' government but whilst it
includes opposing political parties it falls far short of including
women who take the time to speak out for women's equality.
WOZA does not feel represented by the mere fact that there are some
women in political office. We want women to use their position to
engage and consult women and further our combined interests. If
one takes the time to study the 15th September 2008 Global
Political Agreement, rhetoric about women's representation
abounds but they appear to be words without meaning.
Three weeks after the
inauguration of this government and 29 years after so-called Independence,
women are still not fairly represented in most spheres in Zimbabwe.
Peaceful protest is broken up by men armed with baton sticks and
women who are simply demanding their constitutional rights are beaten,
arrested and detained.
On 9th March 2009, two
WOZA leaders will be in the dock in Bulawayo Magistrate's
Court facing a possible five years in prison for demanding political
leaders allow free access to food aid for starving Zimbabweans.
In the words of a police officer, this was a crime of 'exciting
people'. In a justice system backlogged for years, with thousands
of Zimbabweans in prison and unable to be fed or brought to court,
the fact that this case has been prioritised is further proof that
women human rights defenders continue to be harassed and intimidated
merely for speaking out on behalf of their families.
So a year after
WOZA members were beaten and arrested in Bulawayo whilst commemorating
International Women's Day, we still do not find anything in
our hearts to celebrate. Instead we use this occasion to remind
our leaders that actions speak louder than words. And to light a
candle against the darkness so as to guide our steps on the road
to a socially just Zimbabwe. WOZA will continue to demand bread
and roses, a full enjoyment of all our social, economic, cultural
and political rights and the social justice that will restore our
dignity as women. By continuing to take the step forward, perhaps
by the next International Women's Day, we will have something
to celebrate.
Mrs
Susan Tsvangirai - WOZA mourns the loss of a mother to the
nation
Our troubled hearts are
further burdened and saddened by the untimely death of Mrs Susan
Tsvangirai. WOZA was looking forward to Susan being the mother to
the nation that we have long waited for. We witnessed her dignity
and strength in standing by the side of her husband during their
31 years of marriage and understand the unexpressed pain she must
have endured watching her husband suffer at the hands of a brutal
regime. We had hoped and prayed that she would enjoy a semblance
of peace at his side as a mother of the nation. The loss of this
mother of six and tower of strength to her husband is a shocking
blow to the nation and all Zimbabwean women. We offer our heartfelt
condolences to the Prime Minister, their children who have lost
their mother and rest of their family. May her soul rest in blessed
peace at last.
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sheet
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